Princess Anne’s cancelled engagements after ‘horse accident’
Princess Anne will miss eight engagements across England and Scotland as well as a visit to Canada over the coming week after suffering head injuries on her estate.
The Princess Royal is being treated at Southmead Hospital in Bristol after she is believed to have been kicked by a horse at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire.
Anne – who is often dubbed the country’s ‘hardest-working royal’ – will miss a series of events this week in locations including London, Hampshire and Edinburgh.
Among these is the state banquet for the Emperor and Empress of Japan‘s visit at Buckingham Palace tomorrow evening, which will now go ahead without her.
The 73-year-old royal will also not be able to fly to Canada at the end of this week for a tour, but plans are being examined with the country’s government as to how her proposed engagements on Sunday and Monday could be adapted.
Anne is a key member of the King’s slimmed-down working monarchy, and has played an important role as she stepped up for Charles amid his cancer diagnosis.
The Princess is known for her no-nonsense approach and a commitment to duty.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said today: ‘On doctors’ advice, Her Royal Highness’s engagements for the week ahead will be postponed.
‘Her Royal Highness sends her apologies to any who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.’
According to the official royal diary, Anne was expected to travel to the Gogarburn Conference Centre in Edinburgh tomorrow for the Commonwealth Agricultural Conference in her role as president of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth.
As for the state banquet tomorrow, the palace spokesman said: ‘The Japanese State Visit will go ahead as planned, though sadly Her Royal Highness will be unable to attend the state banquet tomorrow.’
On Wednesday, Anne was then due to open Warsash Sailing Club’s renovated clubhouse in Hampshire as the president of the Royal Yachting Association.
On the same day, she was expected to cross the county to also learn about the Royal Lymington Yacht Club’s community sailing programme in her role as patron.
And Anne was then due to head back to Edinburgh for the Commonwealth Agricultural Conference’s dinner at the Royal Highland Showground.
On Thursday, Anne was going to visit Strathcarron Hospice in Denny, Stirling and Falkirk.
And on the same day she was due to be back in Edinburgh for the Commonwealth Agricultural Conference’s annual general meeting.
She was also scheduled to attend the Spinal Injuries Association’s charity polo day on Friday at Cirencester Park Polo Club in Gloucestershire.
And then the Canada visit was scheduled for Sunday and Monday, but she will no longer be able to fly out to the country.
Anne has further engagements for next week, but at this stage it is only her events this week that have been postponed.
Princess Anne in a carriage on day three of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse last Thursday
The Princess, a skilled horsewoman who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, was walking on her Gloucestershire estate yesterday evening when the incident involving a horse happened.
Emergency services were sent to the estate and, after medical care at the scene, the princess was transferred to Southmead Hospital for appropriate tests, treatment and observation.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘The Princess Royal has sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening.
‘Her Royal Highness remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery.
‘The King has been kept closely informed and joins the whole royal family in sending his fondest love and well-wishes to the princess for a speedy recovery.’
The Princess Royal on day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire last Tuesday
The exact cause of the injuries is unconfirmed, but Anne’s medical team have said that her head injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.
It is understood the Princess was walking within the protected perimeter of Gatcombe Park estate when an incident occurred.
Her husband Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, who was on the estate at the time, accompanied her to hospital.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: ‘Her Royal Highness is recovering well, is in a comfortable condition and is being kept in hospital as a precautionary measure for further observation.’
The spokesperson added: ‘Her Royal Highness is receiving appropriate expert care. No further details are being shared at this stage.
‘Her Royal Highness will remain in Southmead Hospital unless or until her medical team advise otherwise.’
The Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire where the incident happened (file picture)
Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and son Peter Phillips were also on the estate at the time, but it is not known who raised the alarm.
The Princess’s accident is the latest health upset to the hit the royal family this year, with both the King and the Princess of Wales diagnosed with and undergoing treatment for cancer, and Sarah, Duchess of York, having skin cancer.
At Trooping the Colour earlier this month, Anne was pictured expertly keeping her horse under control when it appeared agitated.
Anne won the individual championship at Burghley in 1971, and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
In 1976, she took part in the Montreal Olympics as a three-day eventer with the British equestrian team.
The Princess survived an attempted kidnapping in 1974 when a gunman tried to abduct her and then-husband Captain Mark Phillips as they were driven along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
She kept her cool, and when the gunman, Ian Ball, told her to ‘Come with me for a day or two’ because he wanted £2million, she replied it was not ‘bloody likely, and I haven’t got £2million’.
