Kate Middleton and Prince William were seen arriving at the Diplomatic Corps reception on Dec. 6, 2022 without wearing seatbelts. This is a common occurrence with the British royal family, and a security expert, Michael Chandler, shed light on the reasoning behind this practice. According to Chandler, the decision to forgo seatbelts is due to security considerations, with concerns about extracting a principal quickly from a vehicle being a key factor. The royals may adopt a risk-based approach, where a risk assessment determines whether additional precautions are necessary.
Aside from security concerns, comfort and appearance also play a role in the royals’ decision not to wear seatbelts, especially during events where they are in military or formal attire. Chandler explained that seatbelts can crease shirts and may be less practical for quick transitions in and out of vehicles. Despite the perception that royals rarely wear seatbelts, Chandler clarified that they do wear them, particularly when traveling at higher speeds in London or on motorways.
The legal implications of not wearing seatbelts vary for the royal family. King Charles benefits from sovereign immunity, shielding him from prosecution. For other royals, the “risk-based assessment” principle applies, with security decisions made by protection officers generally not being challenged by law enforcement. Additionally, certain exemptions under the Road Traffic Act may apply to diplomatic protection vehicles.
The decision of the royal family to occasionally not wear seatbelts may surprise some, especially in the wake of Princess Diana’s tragic car accident in 1997. Princess Diana, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed, and their driver Henri Paul lost their lives in the crash, highlighting the importance of vehicle safety measures.
Princess Diana sustained serious injuries in a car crash in 1997. An investigation revealed that none of the occupants, including Diana and Dodi Fayed, were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. Former Metropolitan Police senior officer David Douglas, involved in the Operation Paget report, stated in August 2022 that experts believe wearing seatbelts could have increased the passengers’ chances of survival by 80%. While the accident would still have been severe, it likely would not have been fatal.
