An 83-year-old pedestrian was seriously hurt in a collision with a police motorbike escorting Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, from London to Windsor on Monday.
The woman, named by Kensington Palace as Irene, was taken to hospital after the crash, where she remained in a serious and stable condition as of 10.30 a.m. local time Wednesday, Newsweek confirmed.
A spokesperson from police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said an investigation into the incident had begun, but it was too early to speculate as to the specific circumstances surrounding the crash.
The collision occurred at 12.50 p.m. local time on Upper Richmond Road in Richmond, southwest London, according to an earlier IOPC statement. IOPC investigators will speak to local residents and view CCTV from the scene to determine how the incident took place, the spokesperson said.
The investigation was launched "in line with procedure," the IOPC stated. The independent body is responsible for scrutinizing situations involving police in which individuals are seriously hurt or killed.
"Our immediate thoughts are with the injured woman and her family and those affected by the incident. The woman's family has asked that its privacy be respected at this time," the IOPC's statement read.
The Cambridges promised to "stay in touch" with Irene and her family during every stage of her recovery," a spokesperson from Kensington Palace told the BBC. The duke and duchess are believed to have sent flowers and well-wishes to the elderly woman.
When they travel, senior members of the royal family are often accompanied by security convoys supplied by London's Metropolitan Police.
The incident occurred during the couple's journey to Monday's Garter Day ceremony at St George's Castle in Windsor. William and Kate attended the event, which saw King Felipe VI of Spain installed as a Supernumerary, or 'Stranger', Knight of the Garter.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge depart the #GarterDay service with The King and Queen of Spain — today King Felipe VI was installed as a Supernumerary, or ‘Stranger’, Knight of the Garter. pic.twitter.com/j135mD08FA
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 17, 2019
Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander was also installed in the Order Monday, as the Dutch royal family's official Twitter profile noted.
Koning Willem-Alexander is door Koningin Elizabeth II van het Verenigd Koninkrijk geïnstalleerd in de Orde van de Kousenband. Hij kreeg de Britse onderscheiding tijdens het Staatsbezoek in oktober 2018. Voor de ceremonie is het Koninklijk Paar in Windsor. https://t.co/86kF2FWKQr pic.twitter.com/Wos5qqVLV5
— Koninklijk Huis (@koninklijkhuis) June 17, 2019
The Order of the Garter is one of the most prestigious orders of chivalry in the British honors system. The only orders of higher status are the Victoria Cross and the George Cross.
Queen Elizabeth II recently gave Kate official regalia after making her a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, a dynastic order of knighthood set up by Queen Victoria.
Appointments to the Royal Victorian Order, which are made personally by the Queen, recognize services to the monarch.
