Princess Anne, sister of King Charles III, was rushed to the hospital after sustaining a head injury from a horse riding accident at her private estate in Gatcombe Park.
The unexpected incident has sparked widespread concern, given Princess Anne’s prominent role in the British royal family and her active public life.
Buckingham Palace released a statement on Monday confirming that Princess Anne suffered minor injuries and a concussion during the incident at Gatcombe Park on Sunday evening. Reports indicate that her head injuries are consistent with being struck by a horse’s head or legs while she was walking through the estate.
The Princess received initial treatment from paramedics at the scene before being transferred to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for further examinations and appropriate care.
Sir Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne’s husband, and her children, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, were present at the estate when the accident occurred.
Buckingham Palace assured that Princess Anne’s hospital stay is a precautionary measure for monitoring purposes, with expectations of a full and swift recovery. King Charles III has been informed about the accident and his sister’s condition.
He, along with the royal family, has sent their best wishes for her quick recovery. Other members of the royal family, including the Queen, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, and Prince William, were also notified about the incident.
Princess Anne is one of the UK’s most experienced equestrians, having won the individual European Eventing Championship at Burghley in 1971 and competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics as part of the British eventing team. Just last week, she received widespread praise for her skilled handling of her horse, “Noble,” during the Trooping the Colour celebrations.
A spokesperson for the royal family stated that Princess Anne is recovering well and in stable condition. However, on medical advice, all her engagements for the week will be postponed. This includes canceling her scheduled official visit and her upcoming trip to Canada later this week.
Princess Anne expressed her apologies for any inconvenience or disappointment caused by this unexpected change.
