DUKE OF YORK 'CLIPS' POLICE OFFICER WITH CAR WHILE DRIVING INTO BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PRINCE ANDREW, THE DUKE OF YORK, IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY POLICE AFTER HE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE HIT A UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER WHILE DRIVING INTO BUCKINGHAM PALACE. ACCORDING TO SOURCES, THE DUKE 'MAY HAVE ACCIDENTALLY CLIPPED' THE UNIFORMED OFFICER AS HE TRIED TO MOVE TWO JAPANESE TOURISTS FROM THE PATH OF THE PRINCE'S 4X4. THE PRINCE DROVE INTO THE PALACE'S SIDE ENTRANCE AND DID NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IT HAS BEEN ALLEGED. THE OFFICER, WHO IS SAID TO BE 'SHAKEN UP' BY THE INCIDENT SUFFERED AN ARM INJURY AND MADE A COMPLAINT TO HIS SUPERIORS. A SCOTLAND YARD SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THE ACCIDENT WAS BEING INVESTIGATED AND SAID: 'A UNIFORMED METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE OFFICER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE WHILST ON DUTY ON CONSTITUTION HILL AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS ARM. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE COLLISION ARE NOW BEING EXAMINED.' SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY FREQUENTLY DRIVE THEMSELVES WHEN TRAVELING PRIVATELY, WITH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH FAMOUSLY TAKING TO THE WHEEL OF A LONDON BLACK CAB. A SOURCE SAID: 'MOST OF THE ROYALS DO TAKE THE ENTRANCE SHARPLY, THIS IS PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY RISK POSED BY MILLING CROWDS.' A BUCKINGHAM PALACE SPOKESPERSON ADDED: 'THIS IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY MATTER.' THE DUKE IS CURRENTLY IN CENTRAL AMERICA CARRYING OUT DUTIES IN HIS ROLE AS A UK TRADE AMBASSADOR. IN 2002 THE DUKE WAS LET OFF BY POLICE AFTER HE WAS CAUGHT SPEEDING AT 60mph IN A 40mph ZONE NEAR HEATHROW AIRPORT AS HE RUSHED TO CATCH A FLIGHT TO SCOTLAND FOR THE OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP. HE WAS ACCUSED AT THE TIME OF BEING 'ARROGANT' BY POLICE SOURCES AFTER HE TOLD OFFICERS: 'I'M IN A HURRY.'