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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh<\/strong> <\/a>is praying for a woman who was hit by a motorcycle that was part of her royal escort.<\/p>\n Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of Sophie, 58, on Wednesday, May 10, shortly after the accident occurred in West London.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Duchess\u2019s heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the injured lady and her family. She is grateful for the swift response by the emergency services and will keep abreast of developments,\u201d the statement read. \u201cFurther comment at this time would not be appropriate while the incident is being investigated.\u201d<\/p>\n The Guardian<\/em><\/a> reported that the woman struck by the vehicle, who is in her 80s, was taken to the hospital in critical condition after treatment from paramedics.<\/p>\n A similar incident occurred in June 2019 when another woman, also in her 80s, was hit by a police motorcycle in Prince William<\/strong><\/a> and Princess Kate<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s escort. Kensington Palace released a statement at the time noting that William, 40, and Kate, 41, were \u201cdeeply concerned and saddened<\/a>\u201d by the event and that a member of their staff had delivered flowers to the woman.<\/p>\n Wednesday\u2019s accident comes less than one week after the duchess attended King Charles III<\/strong> <\/a>and Queen Camilla<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s coronation on Saturday, May 6. Sophie and her husband, Prince Edward<\/strong> <\/a>\u2014 the youngest child of the late Queen Elizabeth II<\/a> \u2014 both appeared in one of the official coronation photographs<\/a>, posing alongside the king and queen and other members of the royal family.<\/p>\n Sophie \u2014 who shares daughter Lady Louise Windsor<\/strong><\/a>, 19, and son James, Viscount Severn<\/a>, 15, with Edward, 59 \u2014 wore a hand-embroidered white Suzannah London gown underneath her Royal Victoria Order Mantle for the occasion. The duchess\u2019 daughter looked elegant in a white and blue floral gown with a matching headpiece while her son opted for a black suit with a white shirt and burgundy tie. Edward, for his part, donned his Garter Mantle.<\/p>\n The Count and Countess of Wessex \u2014 who tied the knot in June 1999 \u2014 have both noted that the key to their marriage is a strong friendship.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we share a number of interests, we laugh a lot and we have a great friendship,\u201d the duchess noted during a January 1999 press photo call on the grounds of St. James\u2019 Palace.<\/p>\n Edward added, \u201cWe are the very best of friends and that\u2019s essential, but it also helps that we also love each other<\/a> very much.\u201d<\/p>\n Sophie supported her husband when his mother, Elizabeth, died at age 96<\/a> in September 2022. At the funeral service, the West Kent College alum was spotted handing Edward a handkerchief as he got emotional. She was also photographed putting her arm around William and Kate\u2019s son Prince George<\/a>, 9, to comfort him<\/a>.<\/p>\n The royal couple enjoyed a close bond with the late monarch<\/a>. \u201cWe do see quite a lot of her,\u201d Sophie told Sky News<\/em> of her mother-in-law in September 2016. \u201cWe\u2019re over there most weekends riding.\u201d<\/p>\n Sophie and Edward cohosted a garden party<\/a> at Buckingham Palace with William and Kate on Tuesday, May 9. The event celebrated volunteers and \u201cpeople who do extraordinary things,\u201d per the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge\u2019s Instagram. The function comes amid royal experts\u2019 reports that Charles wants a slimmed-down monarchy during his reign, with senior royals including Sophie and Edward taking on more responsibilities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always been rumored that he wants to slim down<\/a> the working royals at the core of the family,\u201d royal expert Jonathan Sacerdoti<\/strong> <\/a>exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em> of Charles in March 2022, six months before Elizabeth\u2019s death.<\/p>\n The king\u2019s sister, Princess Anne<\/strong><\/a>, noted that the premise \u201cdoesn\u2019t sound like a good idea<\/a>\u201d during a rare interview with CBC just days before the monarch\u2019s coronation.<\/p>\n Sign up for Us Weekly’s free, daily newsletter<\/a> and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I think the \u2018slimmed-down\u2019 [comment] was said in a day when there were a few more people around \u2026 [to] make that seem like a justifiable comment,\u201d Anne, 72, explained, hinting at the queen\u2019s death and Prince Harry<\/strong> <\/a>and Meghan Markle<\/strong> <\/a>stepping back from their roles as senior royals in 2020. \u201cI\u2019m not quite sure what else we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n