Buckingham Palace has said that the Princess Royal is to make a ‘gradual return’ to royal engagements, three weeks after an accident that left her in hospital for nearly a week.
Princess Anne carried out her first duty since being taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol with concussion. However, her visit to the Riding for the Disabled Association was truncated to accommodate her recovery. It had been expected to last two hours but, in the end, was about an hour long.
The Princess maintained her deep interest in the RDA, speaking to riders and volunteers helping them. She also handed out awards. And she spent most of her visit on her feet, despite being offered a chair several times.
The Princess did have bruising on one cheek but appeared in good spirits.
As Buckingham Palace shared news of her return, a statement said ”The Princess Royal began a gradual return to duties today”. The emphasis is definitely on ‘gradual’ as the Princess, 73, begins her return.
Anne’s usually busy diary has been scaled back and there are only a few engagements listed for her on the Royal Family’s website – usually, the Princess makes up the bulk of the events listed on it. And her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, recently stood in for her at an awards ceremony.
The Princess Royal has been speaking about her health for the first time since she suffered concussion and minor head injuries in a horse-related incident at her country home back in June.
(Photo by Sgt Donald C Todd/ UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023)
A visit to the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) National Championships at Hartpury University and Hartpury College in Gloucestershire marked her return to engagements. Anne says she “can’t remember a single thing” about her incident. However, medics say it is consistent with the impact of a horse’s legs or head.
Despite her recent injury, it was business as normal for the Princess in the equestrian setting. She joined RDA supporters in conversations, met winners of the competition, and presented awards. The three-day-long Championship is the largest equestrian event of its kind for disabled competitors. Anne became patron in November 1971 and then president in March 1986.
(Royal Family You Tube still/ fair use)
The Princess spent five days in the Southmead Hospital in Bristol before she was discharged. People Magazine confirmed Anne was receiving rehabilitation care at her Gatcombe Park Home in Gloucestershire.
Following her release, her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence issued a short statement: “I would like to extend my warmest thanks to all the team at Southmead Hospital for their care, expertise and kindness during my wife’s short stay.”
The Vice Admiral also said his wife was recovering slowly and she would be out and about “when she’s ready.”
