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The Princess Royal has suffered memory loss after sustaining head injuries thought to have been caused by one of her beloved horses.
The 73-year-old was due to spend a second night in hospital on Monday after suffering head wounds and concussion during the incident at Gatcombe Park, her Gloucestershire estate.
The exact circ*mstances of the accident, which took place when the Princess was out walking on Sunday evening, remain unknown because of her concussion. However, her medical team said her injuries were consistent with potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.
The Princess, a former Olympian equestrian, was conscious on Monday. Her memory loss, which relates only to the incident, is thought likely to be temporary.
An air ambulance was called but, after being treated at the scene, the Princess was taken to Southmead Hospital, in Bristol, by road. Southmead is the largest hospital in the South West and has a specialist neuroscience unit. It is also home to the only adult major trauma centre in the Severn Major Trauma Network, working alongside six other units in the region.
Buckingham Palace said the Princess was admitted for appropriate tests, treatment and observation. She is expected to be released later this week.
The King, the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of York and Prince William were informed of the incident on Sunday evening, and the monarch has been kept “closely informed”.
In a statement released on Monday lunchtime, Buckingham Palace said: “The Princess Royal has sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening. Her Royal Highness remains in hospital 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.”
It is unclear who the Princess was with, if anyone, at the time of the incident, and who raised the alarm. Her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and her two children, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, who both live on-site, were on the estate at the time. Sir Tim accompanied his wife in the ambulance.
Local residents said they saw an air ambulance land at around 9.15pm and a police helicopter circling a few minutes later.
It is not the first time that the Princess has lost her memory following an equestrian accident. At the 1976 Olympics, she suffered a bad fall at a jump when her horse, Goodwill, became stuck in a boggy mud. She later described her memory as “almost non-existent for that day”.
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, and Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, both broke away from campaigning to wish the Princess a speedy recovery.
Mr Sunak said: “Everyone in the country is immensely fond of Her Royal Highness. We’re all sending her our best wishes for a swift recovery.”
Sir Keir said: “Wishing Her Royal Highness a speedy recovery and sending my best wishes on behalf of all of us at the Labour Party.”
Ivor Hatherall, an 85-year-old local resident, said the Princess was a familiar sight in the village of Hampton Fields.
He added: “Princess Anne is generally about, she’s always riding her horses down the road, or sometimes drives past in her Range Rover. When she comes by she’ll stop and have a chat with you, she usually goes by on her horse on her own – it’s such a big horse now.
“I’m very sad to hear that she is in hospital. I would like to wish her well. I’m glad she’s going to be ok.”
The Princess is an accomplished horsewoman and was praised last weekend for her control of Noble, the King’s lively horse, during Trooping the Colour.
She won the individual European three-day event at Burghley in 1971 and in 1976, became the first member of the Royal family to compete in the Olympic Games when she rode Elizabeth II’s horse, Goodwill, in the equestrian three-day event in Montreal.
The Princess had been due to fly to Canada at the end of this week but has now had to postpone the trip on doctors’ advice. She sent her apologies to those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result, and will also miss a state banquet held in honour of the Emperor and Empress of Japan’s visit on Tuesday evening.
A 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.”
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Here is a summary of today’s events:
- The Palace issued an official statement saying that the Princess Royal sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening
- The Princess 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
- Incident occurred within the protected perimeter of the Gatcombe Park estate
- Scheduled Royal trip to Canada at the end of this week for an official tour was postponed
- Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer were among those to send their best wishes to the Princess
Locals wish the Princess well
Resident Ivor Hatherall, 85, said:“Princess Anne is generally about, she’s always riding her horses down the road, or sometimes drives past in her Range Rover.
“When she comes by she’ll stop and have a chat with you, she usually goes by on her horse on her own – it’s such a big horse now.
“I’m very sad to hear that she is in hospital, I would like to wish her well. I’m glad she’s going to be okay.
“When she’s here you’ll very often see the helicopter coming in, taking off.”
Air ambulance was dispatched to Gatcombe Park
It is understood that an air ambulance was dispatched to the scene but was not required to take the Princess to hospital.
Locals near the Gatcombe Park estate said they saw an air ambulance land at 9.15pm last night and a police helicopter circling a few minutes later.
A local man said: “I saw an air ambulance landing on her estate and I thought ‘oh my goodness, I hope it’s not Anne’.
“And then the police helicopter started circling about ten minutes later and I thought the worst. I thought something awful must have happened and I was worried a criminal might be on the loose, but the police helicopter was off pretty quickly.”
He added: “The air ambulance was on the ground for about 40 minutes I think - I’m not sure if it took her to hospital but didn’t look like it did as it flew off the other way.
“I really hope she’s going to be okay.”
Hospital treating Princess specialises in neuroscience
Southmead Hospital is part of the North Bristol NHS Trust and has a number of major specialities, including neuroscience.
The Institute of Neurosciences is based in the hospital’s Brunel building and is a regional centre providing specialised services for a wide spectrum of neurological conditions.
Southmead Hospital is also home to the only adult major trauma centre (MTC) in the The Severn Major Trauma Network (SMTN).
The centre works alongside six other units based across the South West.
The hospital’s orthopaedic department comprises The Avon Orthopaedic Centre, one of the largest centres of its kind in the region which carries out an estimated 1,000 knee replacements a year.
Latest health upset to hit Royal family
The Princess’s accident is the latest health upset to hit the Royal family this year, with both the King and the Princess of Wales diagnosed with cancer, while the duch*ess of York is being treated for skin cancer.
Princess Anne is a key member of the King’s slimmed-down working monarchy, and has played an important role in support of her brother while he receives cancer treatment.
Often dubbed the hardest-working Royal, she is known for her no-nonsense approach and her commitment to royal duty.
Princess ‘awake and conscious’
Due to the Princess’s concussion, precise details can not currently be ascertained, sources from Buckingham Palace have said.
She is, however, awake and conscious in hospital.
The Palace said it was would not confirm whether or not thePrincess was with anyone at the time of the accident and who called the emergency services as such matters were private.
Injuries may not be ‘minor matter’
Princess Anne’s overnight stay in hospital may indicate her injuries are more serious than is being admitted, according to royal commentator Michael Cole.
He toldGB News: “She has stayed overnight and I think that should be an indication that this was no minor matter.
“As we all know, she’s quite a tough cookie and for her to go to a hospital in Bristol means that there was a cause for that.”
Mr Cole added: “Obviously, they have to keep it under observation with a concussion. You never know, do you, it could be just a bang on the head and you’re seeing stars, or it may be something more serious.
“The good thing about it is that Princess Anne is a no-nonsense sort of person. She will take orders when they’re given with authority from professionals, and otherwise she will do her own thing.”
He noted the Princess’s previous injuries by horses, saying: “Princess Anne is no stranger to equine accidents. I remember vividly when the Olympics were in Moscow.
“She was competing in the three-day event in Kyiv, as I recall, and there was a very difficult downhill jump and she came off a horse and was taken to hospital.
“I’ve been around the world with her and she’s always been no-nonsense person in everything she does, and all I think we can do is wish her well for a speedy recovery and that indeed is what the Palace is indicating.”
Far from Princess’s first injury by horse
It is far from the first injurythe Princess has received around horses.
In the 1976 Olympics, she suffered a bad fall at a jump as her horse, Goodwill, became stuck in a boggy mud.
She later described her memory as “almost non-existent for that day”.
Recalling the moment Goodwill fell, she said: “As far as I’m concerned, the lights went out.”
If the horse had not fought to remain upright, she said, “I wouldn’t be here now”.
In fact, she went on to remount and finish the event, writing in her autobiography Riding Through My Life that she had later watched a video of her performance back and “did not look right”.
According to her published account, her brothers afterwards teased her that “you went so much better after your fall, we ought to bang you on the head before you start next time!”
Gordonstoun boarding school sends ‘heartfelt well-wishes’ to Princess
— Gordonstoun (@gordonstoun) June 24, 2024The entire Gordonstoun community sends its heartfelt well-wishes to the Gordonstoun Warden, HRH The Princess Royal, who was injured whilst walking on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday.
Your Royal Highness, we hope that you have a swift and full recovery.#Gordonstoun pic.twitter.com/iUUFFjGgoa
Trip to Canada postponed
The Princess had been due to fly to Canada at the end of this week for an official tour.
On doctors’ advice, she has now had to postpone the trip.
Buckingham Palace and the Canadian government are now looking at how her proposed engagements may be adapted.
The Princess will also miss a state banquet held in honour of the Emperor and Empress of Japan’s visit tomorrow evening.
A palace spokesman said: “The Japanese state visit will go ahead as planned, though sadly Her RoyalHighness will be unable to attend the state banquet tomorrow.”
Head injuries consistent with impact from horse
The Princess was walking within the protected perimeter of her Gatcombe Park estate when an incident occurred, it is understood.
She sustained minor wounds to the head.
The exact cause of these injuries remains unconfirmed but there were horses in the vicinity and the Princess’s medical team said her head injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.
The emergency services were dispatched to the estate and, after medical care at the scene, she was transferred to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for appropriate tests, treatment and observation.
Experienced rider
The Princess Royal is one of the most experienced riders in Britain. She won the individual European three-day event at Burghley in 1971 and competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games as a member of the British three-day event team.
She is a regular rider, and last weekend was praised for her control of horse Noble during Trooping the Colour.
Royal family notified
Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Princess’s husband, and Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, her children, were all on the estate at the time. Other members of the Royal family - the King, Queen, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew and Prince William - were notified last night.
The Princess is expected to be released from hospital later this week.
A spokesman 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.”
Sir Tim went with her to hospital. Her engagements for the rest of the week will be cancelled, as will her participation in the state visit and her upcoming trip to Canada at the end of this week.
A spokesman said: “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.”
Statement in full
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.
Related Topics
- The Royal Family,
- Princess Anne
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