Prince Harry was caught up in a dramatic high-speed crash yesterday when one of his police outriders smashed head-on into a mini-cab as the royal’s motorcade headed to an official engagement.

The fourth in line to the throne looked on in shock as his bodyguards treated both the unconscious driver – who had to be cut free from the wreckage by firemen – and the police rider, catapulted 30ft down the road.

Pictures taken in the aftermath of the accident in central London show the police motorbike embedded in the white Toyota Prius, as the driver lies slumped in his seat surrounded by deployed airbags.

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Prince Harry was caught up in a dramatic high speed crash yesterday when one of his police outriders smashed head on into a mini-cab

The drama unfolded as the royal’s motorcade headed to the Invictus Games, which has been spearheaded by Prince Harry, in north London

The police outrider, pictured, was catapulted 30ft down the road after the collision, which took place as the Prince was on his way to the Invictus Games

Pictures taken in the aftermath of the accident in central London show the police motorbike embedded in the white Toyota Prius, as the driver lies slumped in his seat surrounded by deployed airbags

According to one witness the prince’s Range Rover, which was taking him to an Invictus Games event in north London, took immediate evasive action.

The driver, acting in line with his anti-terrorism training, expertly steered through the damaged vehicles at speed before coming to a stop several hundred feet along the road.

The bystander said he saw Harry, 29, in the back of the car with his head in his hands, constantly looking backwards at the injured men with ‘concern etched on his face’.

Last night the rider from the Special Escort Group was discharged from hospital, while the driver was said to be in a ‘stable’ condition.

Last night the rider from the Special Escort Group, who rode the motorbike, was discharged from hospital, while the driver of the Toyota was said to be in a ‘stable’ condition

After the crash, Harry's driver - apparently fearing a potential terrorist attack - expertly steered through the damaged vehicles at speed before coming to a stop a several hundred feet up the road

A source close to Harry said the prince was insistent they stop and help, even though his security advice would have been to drive on

The Metropolitan Police also began an investigation into the accident, which occurred at around 9.40am on Prince Albert Road, adjacent to Regent’s Park and London Zoo.

A cyclist, who wishes to remain anonymous, saw the convoy of two blacked-out Range Rovers and four motorbike outriders pass him at ‘incredibly high speed’.

He said: ‘I decided to speed up to see if I could catch up with them. I really wanted to know who it was.

CCTV footage obtained exclusively by the Mail appears to show the minicab driving down a side street, stopping at the junction

The car then pulls right across the main road – straight into the path of the police motorbike, which was on the wrong side of the road

The motorbike became wedged into the bonnet of the white car and police and ambulance were called to the scene

The witness said: ‘The first thing that struck me was the motorbike rider in his high visibility jacket lying prone on the ground. He had been put in the recovery position and had his helmet off'

‘I didn’t see the actual crash but came across it just seconds after it had happened.

'There was debris everywhere, steam coming out of the car bonnet. It was carnage.’

CCTV footage obtained exclusively by the Mail appears to show the minicab driving down a side street, stopping at the junction and then pulling right across the main road – straight into the path of the police motorbike, which was on the wrong side of the road.

The bike had its police lights on but there were no sirens.

The witness said: ‘The first thing that struck me was the motorbike rider in his high visibility jacket lying prone on the ground. He had been put in the recovery position and had his helmet off.

A witness said Harry, pictured with his brother later in the day, was spotted with his head in his hands, concern 'etched on his face'

Police cleared up the aftermath of the crash, which took place on Prince Regent Street near Regent's Park

Firemen were forced to cut the roof off the Prius to pull its driver from the wreckage

One cyclist, who did not want to be named, said the aftermath of the crash was 'carnage'

The smashed vehicles were still on the road several hours after the accident, with traffic diverted to avoid the scene

ROYALS' SPECIAL ESCORT GROUP Safety of royals on the road is in the hands of Scotland Yard’s Special Escort Group. Its officers are a common sight in the capital, where teams of outriders are used to ease a smooth path through congested roads. Riding powerful Honda VFR 1200cc motorcycles, they use blue flashing lights and whistles – not sirens – to control the traffic. In many cases, the motorcycle team will be backed up by officers in a following command vehicle, often a Range Rover. All SEG officers are advanced drivers and motorcyclists, and are among the few police motorcyclists who openly carry firearms. Yesterday’s crash will spark an urgent internal review – not least to reduce the chances of a repeat. Advertisement

‘He was definitely the focus of everyone’s attention. The motorbike was well and truly wedged in the bonnet of the Prius.’

Not wanting to get in the way of the emergency effort, the cyclist began to ride off when he noticed the second black Range Rover parked down the road.

‘I could see Prince Harry clearly in the back of the car with his head in his hands,’ he said. ‘He looked really distressed and was constantly looking back over his shoulder to see what was happening. It was clear that for security reasons he had to stay in the car.’

Royal aides confirmed last night that Prince Harry’s convoy had been involved in the crash but that he hadn’t been injured.

A source close to Harry said: ‘It was clearly a shocking incident but he was pleased the officers were able to stop and administer important immediate first aid.’ A source on the scene said: ‘The police were fantastic and sped into action, assessing those who were injured and treating them until the ambulances arrived.’

Officers cleared up debris in the aftermath of the crash, which took place at about 9.40am

Officers from the Met’s Road Traffic Investigation Unit have launched a probe but no arrests have been made