“Doctors say Philip was essentially dead when he slammed into the other car,” a source divulges.
“A previously undiagnosed heart condition apparently caused him to suddenly lose consciousness and stop breathing. Officially, he blames being blinded by the sun, but law enforcement officers say the Duke of Edinburgh reeked of beer too.
“Somehow the force of the crash got him gasping for air again, and by the time witnesses dragged him from the vehicle through the sun roof, he was groggy but slowly able to communicate.”
“Her Majesty says it’s a miracle he survived. She’s so relieved no one else was seriously hurt, but has lied to cover up Philip’s irresponsibility for being drunk behind the wheel.”
Emma Fairweather, 46, broke her wrist when the Kia she was travelling in hit Philip’s Land Rover.
In a signed note, Philip says he was “shaken” by the event and was “deeply sorry”.
“I would like you to know how very sorry I am for my part in the accident at the Babingley cross-roads,” the letter reads, according to the Sunday Mirror.
“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."
And while Philip walked away from the accident unharmed, insiders say the frail duke is in danger of causing another accident if he drives again.
“The palace said he had no injuries of concern, but we’re told Philip had a deadly blackout caused by an abnormal rapid heartbeat or a heart valve problem,” continues the insider.
“The trouble is this could happen again! Philip is playing Russian roulette with his life – and others’ – as long as he drives.”