Princess Anne in hospital after 'incident' at royal estate

Princess Anne has been taken to hospital after suffering from concussion after injuries understood to have been from a horse.

The Princess Royal was injured and left with concussion in the incident at the Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire on Sunday evening, Buckingham Palace has said. She remains in a Bristol hospital for observation.

Emergency services were dispatched to the estate and the King’s sister was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. Royal sources said while the exact cause of the princess’s injuries is unconfirmed, there were horses in the vicinity and royal doctors have suggested her head injuries are consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.

A statement from 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 Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery.

Emergency services were called to Gatcombe Park after Princess Anne was injured on Sunday evening

“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 Palace 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.”

Anne is expected to make a full recovery and to return home later this week. Daughter Zara Tindall and son Peter Phillips were on the estate at the time, along with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Laurence. The King and Queen, and the princess’s siblings the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex, and nephew the Prince of Wales were notified on Sunday evening.

The 73-year-old is considered The Firm's hardest working royal based off the number of engagements she undertakes. Anne will now miss several engagements this week, including the state banquet for the Japanese State Visit on Tuesday and a visit to Canada. A Palace 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. The Japanese State Visit will go ahead as planned, though sadly Her Royal Highness will be unable to attend the State banquet tomorrow.”

The Princess is renowned for being a lifelong equestrian, with multiple horses resident at the Gloucestershire estate's stables. She's previously won a string of medals throughout a glittering equestrian sports career, including the 1971 European Championship title.

The King's sister was also the first royal to compete in the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976. As of 2020, she was listed as royal patron for 28 different horse and animal-related charities, according to Country Life.