Princess Anne is known to hate any sort of fuss and will no doubt be frustrated to miss tonight’s state banquet for the Japanese royals while recovering in hospital.
But her spirits were no doubt lifted this afternoon by a visit from her daughter Zara Tindall.
The King’s niece, dressed for the heatwave in cut-off denim shorts and a matching shirt, was the royal’s second visitor of the day after her husband Sir Tim Laurence popped in around lunchtime.
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.
The King’s niece dressed for the heatwaved in double denim, teamed with grey striped trainers, and accessorised with an Aspinal of London crossbody bag
Zara Tindall cut a casual figure as she paid a visit to her mother Princess Anne at Southmead Hospital in Bristol
Zara’s visit will no doubt boost her mother’s spirits. Princess Anne is said not to remember the accident at her Gatcombe Park Estate – where her daughter also lives with her children and husband Mike
Paying hospital visits hasn’t always tied in with royal tradition.
Zara’s late grandmother Queen Elizabeth, for instance, would not typically visit her husband Prince Philip’s bedside when he was in hospital and vice versa.
However, Zara was no doubt eager to be reunited with her mother and check on her progress after she was admitted to hospital on Saturday.
On Friday, the night before the incident, Zara and Mike were in London with their daughters Mia and Lena, seeing Taylor Swift on the first night of her Eras tour – with Prince William, Princess Charlotte and Prince George also in the crowd.
The equestrian and her family are close neighbours of Princess Anne, living on her Gatcombe Park estate, along with Zara’s brother Peter Phillips.
It comes after Sir Timothy Laurence – who is Anne’s husband of 32 years – visited her in hospital today and was pictured through the hospital’s main entrance carrying a blue bag containing some goodies.
As he left the main entrance at around 2pm after a two-hour lunchtime visit, he said: ‘She’s doing fine – slow but sure.’
Asked if he brought anything for the Princess Royal, Sir Tim, 69, said: ‘Just a few little treats from home.’
Sir Laurence – Anne’s second husband who she married in 1992 – was dressed smartly in some beige trousers, blue checked shirt and navy blazer for the visit.
As he left the building Sir Tim shook hands with and spoke to Tony Hudgell, North Bristol NHS Trust’s director of operational estates and facilities.
Sir Timothy Laurence said Princess Anne is ‘doing fine’ as he brought her ‘a few little treats from home’ in Southmead Hospital
Pictured: Princess Anne’s husband Sir Timothy Laurence seen arriving at Southmead Hospital in Bristol this afternoon
He waved to reporters outside the hospital and put the bag in the rear seat of the Range Rover, before getting into the driver’s seat and driving away.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement yesterday that Princess is conscious and is set to remain in hospital until later this week as a ‘precautionary measure’.
Following the accident, an air ambulance was called to Gatcombe Park and Princess Anne received treatment on the scene. Sir Timothy later accompanied Princess Anne to hospital.
The mother-of-two’s engagements have been cancelled, including a visit to Canada this Thursday,
However, the royal is said to be conscious and comfortable and is expected to make a ‘full and swift recovery’.
Horses were nearby at the time of the accident and her medical team say her wounds are consistent with a ‘potential impact’ from being headbutted or kicked by an animal or animals.
The couple – who have been married for 32 years – attended Royal Ascot with Lady Sarah Chatto last week
After parking up, Sir Laurence was pictured walking through the hospital’s main entrance carrying a blue bag
Pictured: Sir Timothy Laurence seen driving into the hospital car park. Princess Anne’s husband accompanied her to the hospital on Saturday
Sir Tim waved to reporters outside the hospital and put the bag in the rear seat of the Range Rover
Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence leaves Southmead Hospital in Bristol where the Princess Royal is being treated
Sir Timothy (pictured) is Anne’s second husband. The couple married in 1992
As a result, Buckingham Palace officials have concluded a ‘best working assumption’ of how Anne’s injuries were sustained.
It is the major trauma centre for the region, a sign of how serious the incident was treated.
Her accident is the latest health concern to affect the Royal Family, following the King and Princess of Wales‘ cancer diagnoses. Already one of the hardest-working royals, even into her 70s, she has lately played an even more significant role.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman 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.
‘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.’
An air ambulance was despatched but the decision was taken to transfer her to hospital by road.
Locals said they saw the air ambulance land at around 9.15pm. One said: ‘I thought ‘oh my goodness, I hope it’s not Anne’.’
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. A spokesman also confirmed that, on doctors’ advice, Her Royal Highness’s engagements for the week ahead will be postponed.
She had eight engagements across the country before she was due to leave for Canada on Thursday. ‘Her Royal Highness sends her apologies to any who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result,’ the palace said.
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.’
On Monday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer broke away from election campaigning to send the princess their best wishes for a speedy recovery.
It is understood the princess was walking within the protected perimeter of Gatcombe Park estate when the incident occurred, and no other individual is believed to have been involved.
Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, and son, Peter Phillips, were also on the estate at the time, but it is not known who raised the alarm.
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
She is a key member of the King’s slimmed-down working monarchy, and has played an important role as she stepped up in support of Charles amid his condition.
The princess, often dubbed the hardest-working royal, is known for her no-nonsense approach and her commitment to royal duty.
At Trooping the Colour earlier this month, she was pictured expertly keeping her horse under control when it appeared agitated.
Anne won the individual championship at Burghley in 1971, and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
In 1976, she took part in the Montreal Olympics as a three-day eventer with the British equestrian team.
The princess survived an attempted kidnapping in 1974 when a gunman tried to abduct her and then-husband Captain Mark Phillips as they were driven along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
She kept her cool, and when the gunman, Ian Ball, told her to ‘come with me for a day or two’ because he wanted £2million, she replied it was not ‘bloody likely, and I haven’t got £2million’.