Sir Timothy Laurence returns to royal duties after mystery injury

Grasping onto two crutches, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence has returned to royal duties and appears to be on the mend, after suffering from an injury.

Princess Anne’s husband was pictured at the Science and Innovation Park in Wroughton, Swindon which houses the reserve collections of the London museum and contains objects ranging from a 1960s nuclear missile to Stephen Hawking’s voice synthesiser.

Sir Tim Laurence was appointed chair of the Science Museum Group, for a four-year term, which began on January 1, 2024.

The former naval officer is recovering from a suspected torn ligament which he is understood to have acquired while working on their Gatcombe estate.

The retired Royal Navy Officer is Anne’s second husband and married the Princess Royal after her divorce from Captain Mark Phillips, the father of her two children.

Royal fans are pleased to see him back in action. An X user wrote of his return: “It’s so nice to see him back, bless him.”

Another wrote: “Nice to see him up and at it while on the mend.”

A royal fan added: “It’s so nice to see him out and about. I hope he’s feeling much better.”

One said: “Such a great member of the royal family.”

The Hawking Building is based on a former RAF airfield at Wroughton outside Swindon, Wiltshire – a 545-acre site owned by the museum since 1979. More than 300,000 objects have been moved into the building.

In January, Princess Anne travelled to South Africa solo without her husband and carried out a set of engagements in the country.

During the two-day visit, the princess commemorated the sacrifices of black South Africans and other races who played a vital role as military labourers during the First World War.

She also unveiled the organisation’s Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial, which honours more than 1,700 South Africans who carried out non-combat jobs and died with no known grave or commemoration during the First World War.

As an equestrian, Anne also supported the South African Riding for the Disabled Association, a charity which uses horse riding to help children and adults with physical disabilities to improve their wellbeing.