Prince William and wife Kate want to visit a grandmother who was seriously injured when she was hit by a police motorcyclist in their royal motorcade.
Widow Irene Mayor, 83, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after she reportedly broke her pelvis in the horror collision now being probed by a police watchdog.
Local residents claimed the police outrider was driving on the wrong side of the road with flashing lights when he collided with Mrs Mayor in Richmond, south-west London, on Monday afternoon.
The officer was part of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's security team while they were on their way to join the Queen at the Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle.
It is the fourth collision involving a Royal Family member in seven months.
Will and Kate were "deeply concerned and saddened" and had been in touch with the injured pensioner's family, according to Kensington Palace.
The royal couple have sent flowers with a handwritten note and have told Mrs Mayor's daughter Fiona that they would like to visit the church-going grandmother - who was airlifted to hospital - if she is willing to see them.
A member of their staff visited Fiona on Tuesday.
It is understood the Duke and Duchess did not witness the collision and weren't told of it until after the convoy arrived in Windsor.
Will and Kate were in a Range Rover which followed security protocol and did not stop after Mrs Mayor was hit.
Royal protocol calls for the motorcade to drive on if there is a collision or incident.
Mrs Mayor was in a serious but stable condition as she remained hospitalised on Wednesday with extensive injuries after being hit by the motorcycle and knocked down.
Fiona, who lives with her mum just 300 yards from the collision scene in the affluent suburb of East Sheen , said: “She’s got lots of injuries. They are just keeping her stable at the moment.”
It is understood the motorcyclist was clearing traffic in front of the motorcade when the collision occurred.
Local residents claimed the officer was driving on the wrong side of the road with flashing lights when Mrs Mayor stepped out as she walked home.
A witness told the Sun: “His bike hit her and she spun round, off her feet and fell badly on the floor.
“The officer was devastated. But he was going on the wrong side of the road. It could have been so much worse.”
A neighbour, Simon Banks, who took photos of the scene, said: “There was a massive police presence around the crash. A lady was on the ground being attended to by the paramedics and a police motorcycle was lying on its side on the road nearby.”
A photo taken after the collision shows the bike on its side in the wrong lane of traffic at a pedestrian crossing.
The Range Rover carrying Will and Kate was accompanied by at least four motorcycle outriders and two cars, it was reported.
Mrs Mayor's long-time friend Lionel Blackburn, 78, said: “She’s an incredibly nice person. She used to do a lot of voluntary work for the church and her husband Walter used to lead the evening service."
The Met Police said the woman was taken to hospital in a critical condition after the collision just before 1pm on Monday.
The collision is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which said the woman's condition is now serious but stable.
The IOPC's involvement is standard in a case such as this, as it is tasked with investigating "the most serious and sensitive incidents and allegations involving the police".
A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “We are investigating the circumstances surrounding a collision involving a marked police motorcycle attached to the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command and a woman pedestrian on Upper Richmond Road, Richmond, south-west London at 12.50pm on Monday 17 June.
“The woman, in her 80s, suffered serious injuries and was taken to a London hospital where she remains in a serious but stable condition.
“In line with procedure, the Metropolitan Police Service referred the collision to the IOPC.
"Our staff attended the scene of the incident and after careful consideration, we have launched an independent investigation.
"The investigation is in its very early stages and the officer involved is assisting our enquiries as a witness.
“Our immediate thoughts are with the injured woman and her family and those affected by the incident. The woman’s family has asked that its privacy be respected at this time.”
The Met Police deferred comment to the IOPC.
A spokesperson for Will and Kate said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were deeply concerned and saddened to hear about the accident on Monday afternoon.
"Their Royal Highnesses have sent their very best regards to Irene and her family and will stay in touch throughout every stage of her recovery."
It is the fourth collision involving a Royal Family member in seven months.
In January, the Duke of Edinburgh was driving a Land Rover when he was involved in a collision with another vehicle near the Queen's Sandringham estate.
The 97-year-old, who had to be pulled from his overturned vehicle, gave up his driving licence afterwards.
In March receptionist Gill Walker, 59, claimed a police 4x4 carrying Sophie, Countess of Wessex, the Queen's daughter-in-law, crashed into her car and then drove off because it was not allowed to stop due to royal protocol.
She was locked in an insurance battle following the collision in Birmingham last November.
The Duke of Kent, the Queen's cousin, could face a police investigation after he was involved in a car crash with a student in Brighton.
The 83-year-old was driving a Jaguar when he allegedly pulled out in front of a woman's Mini on the A27, causing her to crash her car, on June 2.
