Following the Duke of Edinburgh’s car crash on Thursday and the subsequent pictures which emerged showing him driving without a seatbelt, we have been inundated with readers asking us whether Prince Philip is above the law. Here, we will try and explain.
Short Answer:
No
Long answer:
There has been a lot of misinformation spread around that the Duke of Edinburgh is somehow above the law, and therefore cannot be prosecuted. This is simply not the case.
A lot of this misunderstanding will come from the fact that his wife, Queen Elizabeth II, is above the law and therefore cannot be prosecuted. Regardless of what The Queen does, it can’t be declared illegal.
However, in law, the Duke should be treated just the same as any other individual.
It is illegal not to wear a seatbelt, whether you are a driver of the vehicle or a passenger in either the front seat or back. If you do not wear a seatbelt, you are liable to pay a £500 fine.
Similarly, after his crash on Thursday, Prince Philip was breath-tested at the side of the road to see if he was driving under the influence. The police must not treat any individual with ill-will or favour, including royalty.
