DUKE OF EDINBURGH INJURED IN CARRIAGE ACCIDENT

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH HAS RECENTLY INJURED HIS ANKLE AFTER CRASHING HIS HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE INTO A TREE STUMP. THE 88 YEAR OLD ROYAL ESCAPED WITH ONLY A 'MINOR INJURY' TO HIS ANKLE FOLLOWING THE COLLISION ON THE WINDSOR ESTATE ON FRIDAY MORNING, BUCKINGHAM PALACE SAID. THE DUKE WAS OUT CARRIAGE DRIVING IN THE 5,000 ACRE GREAT PARK WITH A FEMALE GROOM WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. A SPOKESMAN SAID THAT HE LOST CONTROL AS THE PONIES STARTED TO 'RUN AWAY' IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE IMPACT. THE CARRIAGE DID NOT OVERTURN. ALTHOUGH THE DUKE DID HURT HIS ANKLE, HE WAS SAID TO BE IN GOOD SPIRITS, AND THE INJURY HAS NOT FORCED HIM TO CANCEL ANY ENGAGEMENTS. THE PONIES PULLING THE CARRIAGE WERE UNHURT BUT THE GROOM SUFFERED AN INJURY TO HER ELBOW AND WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. A SPOKESMAN SAID: 'THE DUKE HAS A MINOR INJURY TO HIS ANKLE AND DID NOT NEED HOSPITAL TREATMENT. HE HAS BEEN OUT AND ABOUT AS NORMAL THIS AFTERNOON. THE FEMALE GROOM WHO WAS WITH THE DUKE HAS BEEN TO HOSPITAL FOR DIAGNOSIS FOR AN INJURY TO HER ELBOW. THE PONIES PULING THE CARRIAGE WERE RECOVERED UNHARMED.' THE MISHAP IS THE LATEST IN A STRING OF INJURIES THE DUKE HAS SUSTAINED THROUGH CARRIAGE DRIVING AND RIDING HORSES OVER THE YEARS. EARLY LAST YEAR, THE DUKE WAS FORCED TO CANCEL A DAY'S PHEASANT SHOOTING AND SEVERAL ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS AFTER PULLING A MUSCLE IN HIS BACK WHILE DRIVING A HORSE AND CARRIAGE. IN 2004, THE DUKE WROTE A BOOK, '30 YEARS ON AND OFF THE BOX SEAT', WHICH REVEALED HIS PASSION FOR CARRIAGE DRIVING, AND HIS INTENTION TO CONTINUE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. 'I AM GETTING OLD', HE WROTE. 'MY REACTIONS ARE GETTING SLOWER AND MY MEMORY IS UNRELIABLE. BUT, I HAVE NOT LOST THE SHEER PLEASURE OF DRIVING A TEAM THROUGH THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD A LONGER INNINGS THAN MOST, I HAVE NO INTENTION OF GIVING UP WHILE I HAVE A TEAM OF WILLING PONIES AND DEDICATED GROOMS.'