Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, sustained minor injuries and concussion after being injured by a horse while walking within the Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire on Sunday evening [fbba3466]. She sustained minor wounds to the head, which are consistent with a potential impact from a horse's head or legs. An ambulance treated her on the scene before she was transferred to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for tests, treatment, and observation [fbba3466].
Princess Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and her children, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, were present at the estate during the incident. The King has been kept informed and sends his well-wishes for a speedy recovery. The Royal Family has expressed their gratitude for the well-wishes and apologized for any inconvenience caused by the cancellations [fbba3466].
Princess Anne is expected to make a full recovery, but she will remain in the hospital for observation until her medical team advises otherwise. Her overnight stay in the hospital may indicate that her injuries are more serious than initially reported. Southmead Hospital specializes in neuroscience and is part of the North Bristol NHS Trust [fbba3466].
As a result of her hospitalization, Princess Anne will miss several engagements this week, including the state banquet for the Japanese State Visit and a visit to Canada. Buckingham Palace and the Canadian government are considering how to adapt her proposed engagements. The Princess's trip to Canada has been postponed on doctors' advice [fbba3466].
This is not the first time Princess Anne has been injured by a horse. She has had previous accidents during equestrian events, including a fall at the 1976 Olympics. Her accident has drawn attention to her previous injuries from horse-related incidents [fbba3466].
Princess Anne is the Queen's second child and only daughter, and she is 16th in line to the throne. Last week, she was praised for her control of a misbehaving horse during the Trooping the Colour procession [71c6552f].