Prince Philip's apology letter is 'full and frank admission of guilt', says celebrity lawyer Mr Loophole
The Duke of Edinburgh sent the letter to driver Emma Fairweather four days after the smash near Sandringham Estate earlier this month.
Philip, 97, said he may have failed to see her car because of the bright conditions and revealed he was sorry to hear Emma had suffered a broken arm.
But celeb lawyer Nick "Mr Loophole" Freeman told Sun Online the letter was a "full and frank admission of guilt".
He said: "He accepts full culpability in it and admits driving without due care and attention.
"It looks as though either a deal has been done or suggested or he could be prosecuted but wants to hold his hands up.
"He might have been assisted by a lawyer [in writing it] and I was a bit shocked when I saw it."
'SHAKEN' PRINCE
In the letter, Philip revealed he was "shaken" after his Land Rover overturned when it collided with a Kia carrying Emma, her friend Ellie Townsend, 28, and Ellie’s nine-month-old son.
It said: "I would like you to know how very sorry I am for my part in the accident at the Babingley cross-roads.
"I have been across that crossing any number of times and I know very well the amount of traffic that uses that main road.
"It was a bright sunny day and at about three in the afternoon, the sun was low over the Wash.
“In other words, the sun was shining low over the main road.
"In normal conditions I would have no difficulty in seeing traffic coming from the Dersingham direction, but I can only imagine that I failed to see the car coming, and I am very contrite about the consequences."
'VERY HARD' TO DENY
But Mr Loophole, who is known for representing celebrity clients such as David Beckham, says this has "scuppered most defences" if he were to get charged and plead not guilty.
He added: "The apology is in such detail it would make it very hard to successfully plead not guilty.
'I'M SHAKEN' Prince Philip's apology letter in full
I would like you to know how very sorry I am for my part in the accident at the Babingley cross-roads.
I have been across that crossing any number of times and I know very well the amount of traffic that uses that main road.
It was a bright sunny day and at about three in the afternoon, the sun was low over the Wash.
In other words, the sun was shining low over the main road.
In normal conditions I would have no difficulty in seeing traffic coming from the Dersingham direction, but I can only imagine that I failed to see the car coming, and I am very contrite about the consequences.
I was somewhat shaken after the accident, but I was greatly relieved that none of you were seriously injured.
As a crowd was beginning to gather, I was advised to return to Sandringham House by a local Police Officer. I have since learned that you suffered a broken arm. I am deeply sorry about this injury.
I wish you a speedy recovery from a very distressing experience.
"If he was prosecuted, it would be a guilty plea but excellent mitigation. Or it might be an endeavour to avoid prosecution by arguing it's not in the public interest.
"What I can say with some certainty is it would be very hard to fight a summons with due care if he was prosecuted for that because of that confession."
After receiving the letter, Emma told the Sunday Mirror she was "chuffed".
“I thought it was really nice that he signed off as ‘Philip’ and not the formal title. I was pleasantly surprised because of the personalised nature," she said.
A lot of people said it was unrealistic that I wanted that human kindness from Prince Philip – which is what I saw this letter as.”
The mum-of-two previously vented her frustration that she had not received a personal apology from the Duke for his role in the horror smash.
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