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Great-grandmother who was hit by Duchess of Edinburgh’s royal escort dies

A beloved great-grandmother from England who was hospitalized after she was hit by a police motorcycle escorting Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh earlier this month has died from her injuries, according to family members.

Helen Holland, 81, of Birchanger in Essex, had been in critical condition after she was hit at the intersection of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earl’s Court in West London on May 10, according to The BBC.

Her family said on Tuesday that Holland fought “for her life for nearly two weeks… but irreversible damage to her brain finally ended the battle today.”

Helen Holland was in critical condition after she was hit by the police motorcycle, as her family said she fought "for her life for nearly two weeks."
Helen Holland was in critical condition after she was hit by the police motorcycle, as her family said she fought “for her life for nearly two weeks.” Family Handout

Buckingham Palace previously said Sophie’s  “heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the injured lady and her family.”

The mother of four, grandmother of 10, and great-grandmother of seven had been in London visiting her sister at the time of the crash.

Her son, Martin Holland, told the BBC his mother had died after “suffering multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries” while using the “safe route of [a] pedestrian crossing.”

The police motorcycle escorting Sophie hit Helen Holland at the intersection of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road.
The police motorcycle escorting Sophie hit Helen Holland at the intersection of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road. Getty Images

The incident is being reviewed by The Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The agency previously said it was reviewing security camera footage from nearby properties and bodycam video in its investigation.

It also said it will interview all officers on the scene and would be regularly in touch with Holland’s family throughout the investigation.

The Met Police’s Special Escort Group, which was involved in the crash, provides armed escorts for Royal Family members, VIPs, protected members of the Government, as well as other world leaders and dignitaries, according to The Sun.