Princess Anne is ‘recovering slowly’ in hospital after she suffered concussion, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence revealed today.
The Princess Royal, 73, suffered minor head injuries on Saturday when she was walking on her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire and was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol with ‘minor head injuries‘.
Due to the injuries she sustained, the royal reportedly is unable to recall exactly what happened – but is believed to have been struck on the head by a horse.
Sir Tim spent two and a half hours in Southmead Hospital with his wife this afternoon before leaving at around 2pm.
When asked whether the Princess will be ready to leave hospital today or tomorrow he told reporters ‘she’ll be out when she’s ready’.
Princess Anne has been recovering in hospital with concussion after it was thought she was struck on the head by a horse
Sir Timothy Laurence (pictured on Tuesday) said Princess Anne is ‘recovering slowly’ in Southmead Hospital
The Princess Royal is being treated at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, part of North Bristol NHS Trust, a 45-minute, 30-mile drive, from her Gloucestershire home. She is expected to be discharged later this week (stock image)
Her loyal husband has visited the Princess every day since the accident and accompanied her as she was taken into hospital that night.
Sir Tim drove into the main entrance of the hospital’s Brunel building in a Range Rover after 11.30am today.
Stepping from his car, he carried a small navy blue day bag as he entered the hospital without speaking to awaiting media.
Yesterday Sir Tim said that the princess was ‘doing fine, slow but sure’ and was seen carrying a cool bag as he revealed he had taken her a ‘few little treats from home’.
‘We are both profoundly grateful to the medical team and hospital support staff for their expert care – and to the emergency services who were all so wonderful at the scene,’ he said.
‘We are both deeply touched by all the kind messages we have received from so many people near and far. It means a great deal.’
Later that day, the Princess was cheered up by a visit from her daughter Zara Tindall.
Zara Tindall arriving on Tuesday to visit her mother at Bristol’s Southmead hospital
Zara Tindall cut a casual figure as she paid a visit to her mother Princess Anne at Southmead Hospital in Bristol on Tuesday
Pictured: Princess Anne’s husband Sir Timothy Laurence seen arriving at Southmead Hospital in Bristol on Tuesday
The King’s niece arrived wearing blue denim shorts and a matching shirt to check on her progress.
She smiled at reporters and declined to comment on her mother’s condition before giving a wave and climbing into her Mercedes.
Zara along with her husband Mike and their children were said to be at Gatcombe Estate when the incident happened. Her brother Peter Phillips was also on the estate but it is unknown who gave the alarm.
Anne’s medical team said her head injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.
No-nonsense Princess Ann who is King Charles right-hand woman will no doubt be frustrated by her stay in hospital.
She was forced to miss last night’s state banquet for the Japanese royals, axe her trip to Canada this Thursday as well as a handful of other royal engagements.
The Princess Royal is known as being the hardest working royal accounting for a quarter of all royal engagements in the first six months of the year.
A list of Princess Anne’s cancelled engagements. Ailsa Anderson-Cole, Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary who also worked with the Princess Royal, told the Mail: ‘She will be livid at not being able to fulfil her commitments… and loathes letting people down’
The King, Queen, Prince of Wales and Anne’s other siblings, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of York, were all informed immediately after the accident
Gatcombe Park In Gloucestershire – Home Of Princess Anne. An air ambulance was called and she received treatment on the scene before being taken by road to hospital. Her husband Sir Tim Laurence accompanied her
It comes amid a dip in the firm’s tally o official duties in a year when both the King and the Princess of Wales have stepped back as they undergo cancer treatment.
Well-wishes flooded in for the Princess Royal on Monday after it was announced she was in hospital.
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sent her their best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday: ‘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.’