The Duke of Edinburgh was driving alone on Thursday afternoon when he crashed near the Sandringham Estate with no protection officer on board.
According to MailOnline, the 97-year-old Duke drove away without any bodyguards, something he often does in order to maintain his independence.
Royal Protection Officers did respond to the scene of the crash ‘quickly’ but not before passersby rescued him from the wreckage of his Land Rover.
Speaking to the Mail, former royal protection officer Ken Wharfe said: “The Duke of Edinburgh is known to be very difficult when it comes to personal protection officers, especially in a holiday environment like Sandringham.
“I know he would say things like ‘I don’t need you, leave me alone, I’m fine on my own’ – and could take off without them.
“I suspect he has decided to drive to see a friend off the estate and just left. The security team will have been forced to jump in a car, followed and then be completely horrified as they came across the crash.”
Despite the MailOnline’s report, it is thought that the Duke was carrying a passenger at the time of the incident, although the Palace refused to comment on who this was.
Prince Philip’s Land Rover collided with a Kia just outside of the Sandringham Estate on Thursday afternoon.
Such was the impact of the crash, the 97-year-old’s car overturned in the road.
The driver of the Kia, a 28-year-old woman, suffered cuts to her knee while the passenger, a 45-year-old woman, sustained a broken wrist.
Both women were treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn and were discharged later that night.
Police also confirmed that a nine-month-old baby boy was in the Kia but was uninjured.
Prince Philip was also uninjured and is currently resting at Sandringham House alongside The Queen.
Both the Duke of Edinburgh and driver of the Kia were breathalysed, with both readings coming back as negative.
