On Monday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle. William is a Knight of the Garter, and Kate was there to support him. Apparently, they did get to the activities a bit late, and some reporters wondered why. This might be a reason: as their motorcade made its way to Windsor Castle, one of the policemen on motorbikes HIT an elderly woman. She’s been in the hospital ever since.
A widow of 83 was serious but stable in hospital on Tuesday after she was knocked down by a police motorbike escorting William and Kate. Witnesses said the bike was on the wrong side of the road clearing traffic when it hit Irene Mayor in East Sheen, West London. William and Kate have sent flowers to the elderly widow — and hope to visit her in hospital to apologise.
Irene Mayor, 83, was thrown into the air by the impact and landed awkwardly. She was taken to hospital by air ambulance and was on Tuesday night serious but stable with a broken pelvis and other injuries. The bike that hit Irene was a police outrider clearing traffic in front of the couple’s motorcade as it headed to Windsor for a Knights of the Garter ceremony.
A witness said: “His bike hit her and she spun round, off her feet and fell badly on the floor. The officer was devastated. But he was going on the wrong side of the road. It could have been so much worse.”
It is understood the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were also “devastated” when told of the crash. They did not learn of it until after arriving at Windsor. They sent flowers to Mrs Mayor on Tuesday with a handwritten note expressing their sorrow. They have told her daughter Fiona they would like to visit her if she feels up to it. Fiona, who lives with her mum 300 yards from the accident scene in East Sheen, West London, said: “She’s got lots of injuries. They are just keeping her stable at the moment.”
A member of Kate and William’s staff visited Fiona on Tuesday.
This is not William and Kate’s fault. They can’t control which policemen are doing what maneuvers on the road, just like they can’t control whether or not elderly people accidentally walk into the road at the exact same time. I just would like to point out that if this complete accident had happened with a Sussex motorcade, the headlines would be so much different though.
As for the Cambridges’ lateness and how they skipped out on the Order of the Garter luncheon, Rebecca English was being very cryptic for no real reason – she tweeted that the accident was NOT the reason why Will and Kate were late, and it’s also not the reason why they skipped out on some of the Garter stuff. They had a “private” event or meeting Monday and they got the Queen’s approval to skip some of the Garter stuff, so English says. But she won’t say what it was. Hm.
And finally, since I’m repeating these Order of the Garter photos, did you see Camilla ordering Kate to turn around as the Knights came down the street? Camilla was bossing everybody!
#DuchessofCambridge #QueenLetizia#QueenMaxima#DuchessofCornwall#CountessofWessex #GarterDay pic.twitter.com/V5D7bo1zYJ
— Christin Zi (@PackhamGown) June 17, 2019
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red and WENN.
oh my gosh. That is horrible. I hope the woman recovers quickly.
Question – what do we mean by “motorcade”? just their car and a few police motorbikes? Or do they travel with more than that on a normal basis? I can imagine the queen having a motorcade similar to what POTUS has, but I cant imagine all the royals traveling like that on regular basis. I’m just thinking of the traffic. What about when they go to pick up their kids at school?
I remember reading somewhere a few years back that Sophie (and Edward presumably?) no longer have RPOs unless they are doing official work, this article specifically mentioned how happy Sophie was doing the school run in her Jaguar without any officers lol. I just am not sure what the standard is.
Regardless, the accident was by no means W&K’s fault – sounds like it was just a really unfortunate situation all around.
Not sure how comparable but I live a couple blocks from the Obamas and Kushners and when it’s just the kids/a parent and kid it’s usually 2 (maybe 3) SUVs. No aombulances, additional police, etc.
When Obama made speeches in Connecticut they shut down the major highway between many exits to allow for a cleared motorcade. I think it depends if it’s every day movements or planned events. Because I just made it through before the cut, and watched a parking lot (during rush hour) on the other side, and i assume behind me as well. Not always just a couple cars.
That doesn’t sound so bad. I live outside of DC and used to work in the city, and I only had to deal with motorcades a few times. I found them very annoying because they would shut down the street and not let you cross the street, and the stupid parade of cars was no where nearby. So you’d have to walk very far out of your way for no real reason. But maybe that’s to make sure no random old ladies walk in front of it when it DOES come down the road
I live near the Obama’s and Kushner’s too, and the one thing I will say is DC knows how to accommodate motorcades, probably cause they do so many. It disrupts traffic, but not as much as one would think.
I don’t know how many would be in the motorcade, but the police escort is usually the local jurisdiction force at least in the US other than DC which has multiple police sources. Traffic in London is terrible. I can only imagine how hard it would be. I feel bad for this woman, and hope she recovers soon.
I live near Sandringham and when all of the Royals travel about generally, they might drive themselves or be driven by a RPO. If a RPO isn’t driving or in the car, they’re usually followed by another black Range Rover with security.
When travelling to event’s they might take more security and certainly where they expect public to line the street, in anticipation of seeing them, they would have uniformed police escort them. I think they do this where ever they deem that there is more risk.
I hope the lady makes a full recovery, it sounds like it was a complete accident.
To my knowledge they are only really supposed to get outriders (police on motorbikes) for official engagements, which this was. Its the outriders responsibility to clear traffic for the motorcade and yes they are allowed to go on the wrong side of the road. It sounds like he was going to stop to clear the way when the accident occurred.
Regardless their lateness, when they do engagements together they are ALWAYS late so this is nothing new. I recall one occasion when they are at an event at the Royal Albert Hall and they were almost an hour late – William was reported to have been annoyed blaming Kate and her nightmare hair. Bear in mind that the Royal Albert Hall is a few min drive from KP – its literally down the road from their home. For solo events Kate is always late, William however is not (he might not read the briefing notes but he turns up on time).
I’m an American so I might not get it. It seems to me that the royals (any of them) are not called up on to do a lot of work, at least not work in the way the rest of us figure. They get to make a few appearances, cut some ribbons, kiss some babies and maybe have some behind the scene work (though it’s probably done by their staff anyway). But I would be annoyed if someone was always late. I’m annoyed when it happens to me, but in this case why? Why would they be late (other than this time, I mean generally)? They have staff to get them ready and out the door, nannies to wrangle the children if needed and a motorcade to clear the way. If I had “nightmare hair” I still wouldn’t be late to an engagement/appointment. I’d put it up in an updo or maybe even a braid and go on with my day, especially if I already know I have nightmare hair.
@HMC: I don’t get it either, to me it reeks of serious unprofessionalism. Kate has a long history of being late to solo events that pre-dates the children. They were also late to a service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor a year or so ago where they arrived AFTER TQ. TQ did not look amused and William did not look happy when he got out of the car. As I say William generally turns up on time when he’s on his own.
Reports from witnesses are that the vehicles were speeding. If they were indeed speeding because the Cambridges were late, again, then yes . . . . to a certain extent they are responsible – at least to the extent that the Cambridges and their security need to understand that in the future they should not speed to events regardless of their being late, as it clearly places the public in danger.
Kate has shown up over an hour late to engagements, which is a bad pattern.
“it sounds like it was a complete accident” — the witness statement quoted in the article said the police officer was driving on the wrong side of the road.
Ok this is getting more and more bizarre. Again it goes to show how the British media are giving the Cambridges a pass on everything. Had it been Harry and Meghan, I’m sure the British media would be having a field day. I hope Meghan doesn’t come out for a pap stroll to help the Cambridges change the narrative.
Here’s an interesting (in a slow way) video on how they do police escorts for bigwigs in London. Compared to the US, it’s far more low-key. Just the people in the cars and a few motorbikes to stop traffic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmZ7hhREZhI
I’m not sure if this was the exact situation with this poor woman, but it does show how the police motorbikes can be in unexpected locations for pedestrians.
It’s basically that for everyone minus potus in the US. The president gets a huge entourage complete with military vehicles and an ambulance. And most of that is legitimate security/secret service concern. But as another commenter said the spouse/kids are generally 1-2 SUV’s with basic police escort.
AND, to add to Katherine’s comment, they shut down the road a while before the motorcade actually comes through. There are cops everywhere. It’s quite a thing
I think it depends where they are. When Harry was in Toronto he went to CAMH which is near where I live. Both on his way and and on his way out there were police motorcycles clearing the road so they could drive through pretty quickly. It was Queen st which is pretty busy and so it was interesting to see how they emptied the road. I don’t think they actually shut the road, although I think the cops blocked the oncoming lane for a period of time.
We live in New Jersey USA, and our commute goes straight through I78 to Bedminster AMA Trump International Golf Course. Motorcade season is about to start here, ugh. Usually no notice, but you can expect it every Friday afternoon, and the police stop ALL traffic in both directions for quite some distance between wherever the heck he lands (not Newark, maybe a private airport) and the golf course. No kidding, you’re in a standstill for at least 45 mins. And I know it’s a minor world problem, but it sure does suck when you’re in the middle of it with no choice to turn around on a Friday right before your weekend.
is he golfing every f’ing friday? what a complete schmuck.
The woman is 83 & now has a broken pelvis. That’s not something anyone recovers from quickly; at that age, it could well be fatal, or at least the beginning of the end. If she really flew into the air, as stated (could be exaggeration) then it sounds like the motorcycle cop was going a bit too fast.
i was going to say the same thing! A broken pelvis at 83 is AWFUL. Worse than a hip or knee.
That’s an upsetting thing to have your name attached to. Honestly, I’m just so glad it wasn’t Meghan and Harry’s motorcade. Not that it’s something I’d wish on anyone else, but my god it’d be an even bigger mess. Hopefully the elderly woman recovers – I wonder if she had a bit of a spell and stepped into the road because of it. It must be awful for the officer involved as well.
Re: Camilla – I really enjoy that woman. I think she’d be a bucket of fun most of the time – but she clearly turns on the serious when she needs to.
Agreed on Camilla.
Speedy recovery for the lady and hoping no long term complications for her.
Erinn, me too re Camilla….she’s a much better match for Prince Charles overall. I just watched the video posted….is it just me, or did anyone else notice Camilla seemed to be “doddering”?
Like … shaking…Parkinson’s kind of tremble. I hope and pray it’s just me
I hope the lady is doing okay. No the Cambridges are not at fault but they blew it when they didn’t visit the daughter and sent the help.
As for Camilla bossing Kate – way to go. Remind Kate who outranks her and she is proof that Kate can be replaced.
If mom were in the hospital like this I would not want to bothered with a Royal visit. I think by waiting they are being sensitive because they will creat a ruckus wherever they go.
Yeah, I’m not going to criticize W&K for that. It’s been two days. I wouldn’t want a royal visit at this point, especially since it seems like the woman’s injuries are fairly serious, considering her age.
It’s not entirely impossible for them to have a low-profile visit. And if not to the woman herself for obvious reasons, but to the family at least. Two days is a decent amount of time to wait in this case.
Having been through a car accident where i broke my hip and both ankles at the age of 40, they really are just trying to stablize the injured at this time. When there is a hip/pelvis fracture, the docs typically wait 4-6 days with the patient only in traction to let major bleeding to slow down before they operate to set or pin broken hip bones together. She has likely received multiple blood transfusions while they wait due to massive hemorrhaging that can occur to the blood-rich area. Then, when that surgery is complete, she may still be in the hospital for up to 10 days for observation and other surgeries/repairs. Due to her age, i would expect they will dismiss her to a rehab facility where they can care for her as she will be wheelchair bound for at least 90 days. And, with it being the pelvis, the docs will have to be very wary for infections. One infection in the damaged area could render her wheelchair bound for life. I, too, really hope she pulls through, but massive injuries at her age will very likely shorten her lifespan, and certainly affect her quality of life.
Aang, if my grandmother was in this lady’s place, she’d be over the moon with a visit from ANY of the royals. I think it’s an age thing, she’s about the same age as the woman in the story.
Camilla appeared to be bossing Maxima, not Kate.
+1
That’s what I saw, too.
That’s how I saw it, too.
I hope the lady makes a full recovery. Must also be upsetting for the police officer involved. From what I understand the motorcycle was ahead of the motorcade to control the traffic ahead. W&K didn’t actually see the accident happen.
Also royals schedule lots of private meetings. Or it could also easily be something they had to attend for one of the kids schools or something for Kate’s family.
Oh my gosh. that Daily Mail headline re: Camilla and Kate. THIS is what we mean when we talk about the double standard. THIS is what we mean when we say “imagine if this were Meghan.”
“Duchess of Cornwall helpfully guided Kate and Queen Maxima to face forward…days after Harry ordered Meghan to turn around.”
so one is being ordered, and the other is being helpfully guided.
That story convinces me more that the Cambridge marriage is in trouble. Claim the Sussexes are practically fighting on the balcony.
That’s their headline? They’re really actively drawing attention to their own brazen hypocrisy?? Wow.
It’s hypocrisy. But also rude for Camilla to order Queen Maxima to do anything.
the Maxima thing I get, because much like Meghan on the balcony, Maxima might not have realized the parade was starting or whatever. I don’t think she’s been to this before so she may have just not realized what was happening.
I don’t think Camilla telling them to turn around was a big deal (it seems from the video she just sort of gestures?) but I also didn’t think Harry telling Meghan to turn around was a big deal either.
It’s the headline that is more interesting to me.
Agree with Becks – both cases just look like they were catching their attention that the thing was about to start/happen. Noting rude
It’s the Fail so of course that’s the phrasing. It’s like expecting Fox News to be real journalism.
Hope she recovers! Definitely agree that it’s a bad thing to have your name attached to.
RE’s cryptic comment has people on Twitter exclaiming Kate is pregnant again, and they were late due to morning sickness. Which is amusing to me, less than 2 years after Prince William said people in Africa were having too many kids and taxing the environment, etc.
They’ll announce it soon enough if she is. I would not be surprised. Many of us on here have said they would go for a fourth.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all, either. I would be surprised if they don’t have a 4th kid.
They are always late, Kate esp when she’s doing solo engagements. Also she’s had botox and fillers done on her face, if she was pregnant no way would she do that.
It might have something to do with the Royal Foundation split or excuses are simply being made to cover for their tardiness and unprofessionalism. The garter ceremony is a BIG deal, esp for TQ. And given that its William and TQ doesn’t like confrontation, it could also be Big Willy just said he didn’t want to hang around and thats that.
Oh yeah, the botox. Maybe she is doing it now and will get pregnant in a few months? no idea how long you should wait after that though. Maybe there wont be a fourth at all. But, I would not be surprised if there is.
I think there just isn’t an excuse for their lateness and for skipping the ceremony and luncheon, and the RRs cant even pretend there is. they’re just saying there was a private event, but the OG is such a big deal that I think they could have scheduled around it if they wanted.
@Becks: If she’s started on the botox again would indicate that at this stage they are not planning on having a 4th, remember William himself stated that he had to be persuaded to have Louis. When she stop the botox/fillers and puts weight on then we can be sure that there will be a 4th – previous experience tells us this.
I will be very surprised if there is a 4th, no matter how broody she is or how she tries to use the Rose story.
Maybe they were actually told they missed the lunch (I think they have always attended it) for personal reasons. And it could be something health-related,like children not feeling well,or a medical visit they had already scheduled. I can see why they would remain vague.
I doubt it. I think they’ll stick to 3 and Kate will get a new puppy fur baby by the end of the year
I hope the poor woman recovers.
That photo of Kate and Camilla: the look in Kate’s eye says “dont boss me around old dragon lady.’
Yup Kate has definitely stepped up her game – she is future Queen after all.
She’s future queen AFTER Camilla. why do people keep forgetting that?
Future future queen
“Kate has definitely stepped up her game”
LMAO best joke ever.
Dragon Lady?? I actually think Kate and Camilla have a better relationship than they used to–they seem pretty comfortable and warm around one another these days, though that could obviously be different in private.
“I just would like to point out that if this complete accident had happened with a Sussex motorcade, the headlines would be so much different though”
Doubtful, but if so, the American Meghan-stans would be screaming in comments section about how it was that elderly woman’s fault.
You can dislike Meghan, you can get irritated with the Stans. But history doesn’t lie and we all know good and well this would have been slanted all the way left if it had been Meghan and Harry in the car.
Don’t let bias cloud facts. We all have access to Google and the nonsense that has gone on these past two years
“Doubtful”? Just look at the difference in headline for Camilla telling Kate to turn around. But go ahead, keep pretending that Meghan is treated fairly by the media. Cambridge fans do tend to be a hypocritical and willfully ignorant bunch after all.
From what I’ve seen on social media, both “fan teams” are ignorant and irrational. The Africa comments were horrible from both sides. Also, trying to overshadow a terrible terrorist attack commemoration – by spreading rumours during the exact time he was there in New Zealand – was absolutely disgusting. Thankfully, that only worked on the Americans, as they never acknowledge terror when it comes from the other side. Anyway, if this was M&H,the Mail would be having a field day with it and some of the fans would be nasty too. Just the way it goes, unfortunately.
Yes is would be different-the last year has proven that. And no, people wouldn’t be saying that it’s the elderly woman’s fault-get a grip.
Come on, the Daily Mail literally had a giant photo of Meghan with a headline “IS MEGHAN MARKLE’S FAVOURITE SNACK FUELLING DROUGHT AND MURDER” just because she mentioned eating avocado toast on her blog once, and in the same week they basically brushed off Prince Phillip’s dangerous driving.
All Meghan has to go is breathe and the press and her trolls go nuts. There are something like 5 thousand comments on the article about the Trooping balcony just because she turned her back on the Queen for two seconds to ask Harry something. Can you imagine what they’d make of this? And her hardcore tinhats are trying their hardest to push conspiracy theories about her being a narcissist psychopath who forced Harry into a fake wedding ceremony and faked her pregnancy.
If she was remotely linked to this they’d have come up with a conspiracy about Meghan having the woman assassinated by tea time.
Are you kidding me? If it had been a Sussex motorcade, the headlines would read, ‘American Meghan Markle runs over pensioner while joy-ridding on motorcycle and then shoots her with concealed weapon’. Meghan is the best thing that ever happened to the Cambridges because they’ve got a free ride from the press ever since.
I hope the lady recovers. A serious injury like that is no joke at that age. It would be nice if the Cambridges sent her a note. It wasn’t their fault (although if they were late because Kate needed to get her hair done…) but it would be a nice gesture.
The article says they DID send her a handwritten note and flowers. And that they would like to visit her when she is up to it.
I’m not sure you understand what a motorcade is. The police on bikes always go ahead to clear the way. Yes they are allowed to be on the wrong side of the road and they do speed to get ahead & clear the way. But the speeding itself has nothing to do with the diplomatic vehicle in which the Royals/VIPS are seated in. So being late wouldn’t have anything to do with the motorcade.
I hope the woman makes a full recovery and quickly. Even a simple fall can be so serious at that age.
Did no one else notice that in the video, Camilla looking quite shaky like something is wrong with her? Hands and head visibly shake and she doesn’t look well during the facing forward part.
I hope she’s fine. You can have the younger royals, Camilla is my favorite. Met her once during a visit to an organic farm that was owned by some friends, and she was a kick.
Robinda, I asked the same thing before I saw your comment. I do so hope she’s alright also.
A broken pelvis in an elderly person is very serious, much worse than a broken hip. Recovery is longer & chances for return to full mobility & previous activity levels are less likely than with a hip injury.
RF should put the woman in a very nice hospital, not an NHS ward, with top-notch rehab facilities & pay for the whole thing. If she wants a private room, do it.
It’s a very serious injury for her age. I know it for experience. Let’s hope she recovers, but it will affect her life,sadly.
The DM says she has two broken arms, a broken leg, broken pelvis, and worrying head injury. She’s looking at least 3-4 weeks in the hospital barring complications, and then 90 days in a medical rehab unit.
Funny how that Daily Fail headline is “Camilla helpfully guided Kate to turn around” but when Harry did the same with Meghan he was “admonishing Meghan and making her cry”. The double standards and hypocrisy is so blatant.
The difference is the expression of Meghan’s face when she was told to turn around…this website is insane when it comes to being objective. Poor Meghan looked like she was holding back tears…it’s ridiculous that most commenters here can’t see that lol
Come on, she clearly didn’t.
I 100% thought she did. I didn’t think it was a direct result of Harry being some sort of cruel brute and a trouble with their marriage – I think she had a lot on her mind. Shad to deal with her first public appearance since having the baby, and leaving the baby with someone else – and it DID look like she was blinking back tears. That said – it could be from looking up for the air crafts or whatever was going on – it seemed like a bright enough day. But there WAS a point where her blinking increased noticeably and to deny that just seems silly.
I think there was clearly blinking, but if you look at the video the whole balcony was kind of doing that – Andrew, etc. I think they must have turned directly into the sun, and Meghan’s hat would not have offered any protection.
ETA and when she walked back in she was smiling and happy and she and Harry held hands.
She was blinking non stop and everyone else was frowning, especially the children. It was obviously too bright.
What I found odd was the way she turned around, almost robotic.
Whether she did or didn’t look like she was gonna cry depends on which video you decided to watch and believe. If you watched the doctored voiceless one AND believed it to be legit, then you’ll conclude Meg was scolded and was close to tears. If you watched the original undoctored with voicing, then it was as clear as day that there was no scolding and Meghan, Camilla and all that were chatting immediately turned to the national anthem and there was no close to tears looks on Meghan face. Depends on where you wanna stand.
I thought she looked a bit quivery as well and chalked it up to nerves (first time back out), she’s hormonal ( I cried at commercials with dogs) and it was likely the first time she was away from Archie for more than five minutes.
So all in all, I can see why she’d be a touch emotional. Having said that, the headline and subsequent story was DM assholery and a clear double standard when Camilla did it.
And yea, there’s no objectivity here when it comes to the respective Duchesses.
tumblr misses your fan fiction. There’s no ordering, no fight, no tears, no falling apart. Go back to photoshopping other babies onto Archie’s face like the rest of your weird tumblr crew.
Well put notsugarhere. The hater fiction is so bizarre.
+1
Oh look, someone doesn’t agree with you so they’re a troll. What a surprise 🙄
All these new names, all anti-Meghan, and spouting tumblr rhetoric? Easy to spot.
Yes, I thought Meghan looked upset, too. On the other hand, everyone seemed to be struggling with the sunlight and she’s likely still emotional post-baby, both of which would easily explain her expression.
Camilla was also standing forward a bit from the other women, so she likely saw it was starting before they did.
My take on the day is that Harry seemed to be in a bit of a snit even during the carriage ride. Now I know I’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed some days and have been a bit grumpy most of the day, so has my husband and frankly so have most people I know. It’s quite possible that Harry was a bit grumpy that day and Meghan was just trying to deal with a grumpy husband, hungry baby, post-pregnancy emotions and knowing that she was going to be on the front page of just about every paper and website worldwide.
Hope she recovers. Agreed that if Harry/Meghan motorcade Meghan would’ve been the cause and headlines would be how dare she show up at Ascot smiling while lady is in the hospital fighting for her life. Camilla is the next Queen, not Kate.
So true.
If it were Megahn grinning and smiling at Ascot after such an event, the British press would be going into meltdown
Not that Kate doing so is wrong, it’s just that if it were Meghan the press would be writing different headlines, all Negatives!
I don’t think Kate is going to go for #4, I think it would look bad. She has one “extra,” so she should be happy with her hands full of darling children, and nieces and nephews for years into the future.
That poor woman! I hope she recovers quickly.
I never in my life thought I’d say this but I’m starting to like Camilla more and more. She just seems like a IDGAF kind of gal.