A royal commentator has weighed in on Princess Anne’s injuries following a horse-related incident, fearing her condition may be “worse than concussion”.
The Princess Royal suffered “minor injuries and concussion” on Sunday evening after the incident at her England estate, a Buckingham Palace statement said.
Her injuries are believed to be consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.
Her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence provided an update on the 73-year-old earlier this week after visiting her in hospital, believing it would “take her a long time to recover” from her injuries.
Making brief remarks to reporters outside Bristol’s Southmead Hospital on Wednesday local time, Sir Tim said the Princess Royal was “recovering slowly” and that she would “be out when she’s ready”.
Former royal editor at The Sun Duncan Larcombe said he feared Princess Anne’s condition may be worse than initially thought as it could be more serious than a concussion.
“It certainly suggests that perhaps whatever had happened to her, it’s worse than concussion, because I don’t think you’d be kept that long in hospital for a simple concussion,” he told GB News.
Larcombe noted it was more health news for a family that has had a “horrific start” to the year after King Charles and Princess Catherine’s cancer diagnoses.
He further said he was “surprised” the accident occurred, given Princess Anne’s experience with horses as the royal is a keen horsewoman and former equestrian.
“When you know horses that well, you know where you stand, you know which horses are which and their different temperaments,” he said.
“So it’s certainly a bit of a surprise that she would suffer from being kicked by a horse, if indeed that’s what happened.”
Princess Anne is currently staying at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a “precautionary measure for observation,” Buckingham Palace’s statement after the incident said.
It said she was 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,” it continued.
Her husband Sir Tim said after his visit to the Bristol clinic on Tuesday he and Princess Anne were “both profoundly grateful to the medical team and hospital support staff for their expert care”.
“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,” he said.
As well as her husband, Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, 42, was also seen visiting her mother at the clinic on Tuesday.