Duchess of Edinburgh’s Met Police motorcyclist will stand trial for careless driving after hitting and killing ‘vulnerable’ great-grandmother, 81

A Met Police motorcyclist has denied driving carelessly when he hit a great-grandmother while escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh around London.

Christopher Harrison, 67, is accused of causing the death of 81-year-old Helen Holland by reckless driving while part of a royal escort at Earl’s Court on May 10, 2023.

Mrs Holland, a mother of four, suffered serious injuries in the collision and died in hospital two weeks later on May 23, 2023.

Harrison, from Billericay, Essex, appeared at the Old Bailey wearing a black suit and navy blue tie and sat in the dock accompanied by a dock officer.

He denied causing the death by careless driving.

According to the complaint, he caused Ms Holland’s death by driving a BMW R1200 motorcycle on West Cromwell Road without due care and attention.

Judge Mark Lucraft QC, the Recorder of London, said Harrison’s trial would take place on November 10 next year before a High Court judge.

Prosecutor Zoe Martin previously said: ‘The victim was a vulnerable road user.’

According to the complaint, he caused Ms Holland’s death by driving a BMW R1200 motorcycle on West Cromwell Road without due care and attention. In the photo: the site of the crash

In a statement released at the time, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, said her “sincere thoughts and prayers” were with Mrs Holland and her family.

Mrs Holland, grandmother of ten and great-grandmother of seven, was struck at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road.

She had gone to lunch with her sister Dorothy Phillips, shared a quiche and laughed about their teenage years before the siblings shared a poignant goodbye hug and began their journey home separately.

But just minutes later, at 3.20pm, Mrs Holland was hit at a zebra crossing.

Mrs Phillips, who lived in nearby Earl’s Court for 45 years, said she only found out her sister had been knocked down hours later, when she called her home in Birchanger, Essex, to make sure she had gotten home safely .

The charge against Harrison was approved following a review of the evidence by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The Met Police Special Escort Group provides armed escorts for members of the Royal Family, VIPs, protected members of the government, visiting royals, heads of state and other visiting dignitaries.

Ms Holland’s death is the first to be linked to the special escort group, although in 2019 riders from the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hit 83-year-old Irene Mayor, who suffered a broken leg, pelvis and arm and head injuries.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, said in a statement after the incident that her “sincere thoughts and prayers” were with Helen Holland and her family.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said at the time: ‘The Duchess’ sincere thoughts and prayers are with the injured lady and her family.

‘She is grateful for the quick response of the emergency services and will keep informed of developments. Further comment would not be appropriate at this time while the incident is under investigation.”

Harrison denies causing Ms Holland’s death by careless driving.

A pre-trial hearing will take place on May 23, but Harrison is not required to attend. He remains on unconditional bail.