Featured Image Credit: Francois Nel/Getty Images
Topics: Royal Family, UK News
Rhianna Benson
Further details have emerged on the injuries Princess Anne sustained after being kicked by a horse last year.
Royal officials revealed earlier today that the 74-year-old suffered a 'much worse' concussion than the public was first informed of, which saw her admitted to the intensive care unit at Southmead Hospital in Bristol on 24 June 2024.
The Princess Royal had reportedly been tending to the horses she kept on her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire, when one kicked at her.
Anne was rushed to hospital for tests at the time.
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There, over a period of five days, she received treatment for her concussion and head injuries, and general observation.
At the time, Buckingham Palace released a statement, which read: "The Princess Royal has sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening.
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"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."
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The following month, Anne returned to her official duties whilst sporting a black eye. Though she was forced to miss at least nine engagements in the weeks that followed - including a trip to Canada and the Japanese State Visit to the UK.
This must have been tricky business for a woman often considered the 'hardest working' member of the institution.
Whilst minimal updates on the mother-of-two's health and wellbeing have since been issued, an insider told The Sunday Times this week that the incident involving her horse was 'so much worse' than initially conveyed to the public.
"Her accident was so much worse than anyone let on and it took quite a while for her to feel herself again," the source explained.
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Another insider, a former royal aide, also spoke to the news outlet about the Princess' injuries, revealing that her family often insisted she should tone down the amount of work she was undertaking.
"I’d look at the diary and suggest, 'Ma’am, you really can’t do another weekend of engagements, it’s your third weekend in a row'," they reportedly told the news outlet.
"Why not?" she would say. 'Because I’ll get a rocket from your husband on Monday asking, When are we going to spend some time together'."
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Anne later claimed she remembers 'nothing' about the incident at her estate.
During an appearance at the Grand Military Cup Day at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey back in January, she gave a deeper insight into what exactly happened that day.
Asked if she recalled walking into her field, the Princess replied: "No, I don't even remember that.
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"I know where I thought I was going and that was to go to the chickens, no, nothing to do with horses," she continued, going on to say that seeing the chickens was part of her 'regular visit'.
"I don't have any idea what I was doing in the field, because I never normally went that way," Anne continued. "It just... shows you - you never quite know, something [happens], and you might not recover."
The Princess Royal was also asked at the time if she believes she'll suffer any lasting effects of the injury, to which she replied: "Apparently not, at least I don't think so.
"As far as I know, nobody else thinks so - they haven't been honest enough to tell me yet. So far so good. You are sharply reminded that every day is a bonus really.'
At the time of her injury, a number of the Princess Royal's loved ones pledged their support, including her nephew, Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, who wrote on X: "Super trooper! So great to see you back so soon. W&C x."