Princess Anne revealed that she had been in intensive care following an accident at her Gloucestershire estate last June – as she made an emotional return to the Bristol hospital where she was treated for concussion and minor head injuries at the time.
The Princess Royal, 74, was believed to be walking in the grounds of her Gatcombe Park estate on June 23, 2024, when the accident occurred.
It was reported at the time that the former equestrian’s injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.
Today, a smiling Anne returned to Southmead Hospital in Bristol on Thursday to thank the team of doctors, nurses and other health professionals who treated her during her five nights at the facility.
She told crews, who were involved in looking after her following the incident in the summer: ‘Sadly, I don’t have huge memories of being in here either. I just know I was really well looked after so thank you.
It had not previously been known that Anne, who drove herself to the engagement on Thursday, had been treated in intensive care.
Anne, in a short speech, admitted: You’ve been filling in the blanks, which partly, from my perspective, is really useful to know what happened because I seriously don’t have any idea and, sadly, I don’t have huge memories of being in here either. I just know I was really well looked after so thank you.
Princess Anne (pictured) smiled as she met with staff at Southmead Hospital in Bristol on Thursday, more than six months on from the accident that saw her hospitalised there for five nights
‘But whatever you did, it seemed to work… the recovery being relatively straightforward, thankfully. That isn’t always true so I’m really grateful.
‘I’m also grateful in a weird sort of way that I remember nothing because that has huge advantages – you can just carry on.’
The King’s sister spent five nights in the facility after her accident on June 23 and did not return to public royal duties until almost three weeks later after rehabilitation support at home.
At the time, Buckingham Palace said the princess ‘remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation’.
Anne has described how ‘every day is a bonus’ after she suffered concussion and minor head injuries.
Most of the princess’s visit to the ICU was private.
The Princess Royal met members of the choir at Southmead Hospital, as well as the doctors and nurses who provided treatment
She walked along the critical care corridor of the unit, meeting staff at different intensive care pods while machines could be heard beeping intermittently.
The princess was introduced to the discharge team who helped with her care including major trauma practitioner Nicholas Crease, occupational therapist Helen Marshall, ICU clinical lead physiotherapist Emma Wickman, and the trust’s medical director Dr Sam Patel.
ICU matron Morwenna Maddock introduced Anne to the team, telling the princess: ‘There were very heavily involved.’
Dr Patel said to Anne: ‘We would see each other on and off…. It was very much the team.’
He spoke later about the importance of patients putting together the pieces of their stay in the intensive care unit.
‘It’s important for anyone that’s been cared for to close the loop,’ he said. ‘I think if patients understand the nature of the problem, the nature of their pathway, that’s half of the battle, and I think they can then build on that.’
Ms Maddock said after the visit: ‘It was really nice for her to come back and see the team… It’s really important for our staff to see that their hard work has paid off.’
Among those who treated the princess was Steven Pullin, a volunteer community responder, who was the first on the scene at Gatcombe Park.
She was pictured talking to members of the critical care team at the hospital
Anne also met paramedic Sophie Taylor, who accompanied her to the hospital, and the two-man critical care team who treated her at the scene: doctor Richard Jeavons and specialist paramedic Callum Sutton, who both work for Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.
Maria Kane, joint chief executive of the North Bristol NHS Trust, thanked Anne for her return visit, saying it had given staff a boost.
Ms Kane said: ‘I know staff who talked to you earlier today have been very very grateful to hear that you’ve made such a lovely recovery and look so well today. We’re absolutely thrilled and delighted to hear that.
‘Everyone who has been involved in your care has been wishing you well.’
The King’s hard-working sister, who was forced to step back from royal duties for three weeks after the accident, was dressed in a knee-length tan coat that she accessorised with a gold brooch for the visit.
She wore a beige turtle neck knit underneath her jacket and brightened her ensemble with a patterned scarf.
Anne completed her outfit with knee-high black leather boots and a black handbag, and wore her hair in her signature brushed-back style.
The royal was introduced to the chair and chief executive of the hospital upon arrival and, once inside, she met with members of the organisation’s critical care team and choir.
Dressed in a tan coat, which she accessorised with a brooch and patterned scarf, Anne looked typically elegant
The cheerful princess could be seen chatting to many different members of the hospital staff, all of whom appeared delighted to be in her company.
Earlier this year, Princess Anne reflected on the accident, explaining that she remembered ‘nothing’ from that fateful June day.
Speaking on January 24 at the Grand Military Cup Day at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey, after a whirlwind trip to South Africa, Anne revealed that she was on the way to see chickens on her estate when the accident happened.
When questioned whether the last thing she recalled was walking into a field, Anne said: ‘No, I don’t even remember that.
‘I know where I thought I was going and that was to go to the chickens, no, nothing to do with horses.’
She added that seeing the chickens was ‘my regular visit, I don’t have any idea what I was doing in the field, because I never normally went that way.
‘It just…shows you – you never quite know, something [happens], and you might not recover.’
After the accident, an air ambulance and emergency services went to the Gloucestershire estate, and following medical care at the scene, the royal was transferred to Southmead Hospital in Bristol by road for tests, treatment, and observation.
In January, Princess Anne spoke about the suspected horse-related incident that left her hospitalised in June during the Grand Military Gold Cup Day at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher
The royal said she recalled ‘nothing’ about the incident
Asked about any lasting ill effects, she lightened the mood and joked: ‘Apparently not, at least I don’t think so. As far as I know, nobody else thinks so – they haven’t been honest enough to tell me yet. So far so good.’
She added: ‘You are sharply reminded that every day is a bonus really.’
Interviewed after a whirlwind two-day tour of Cape Town that ended on Wednesday, Anne also discussed her future and was asked whether retirement was an option, she replied: ‘It really isn’t written in, no. It isn’t really an option, no, I don’t think so.
Her father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, did retire from royal duties in 2017, but he was 96 when he took the decision and had supported Queen Elizabeth II for more than 65 years at the time.
Anne is known for her busy work schedule, and as she approaches her 75th birthday in August, the royal will continue to lead the monarchy in various engagements.
During her Cape Town visit, Anne laid a wreath at a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial, the first to recognise the sacrifices of black South Africans who died working as First World War labourers to help Britain’s war effort in east and south-west Africa.
She performed the task as CWGC president, a role that had been carried out by the Duke of Kent, 89, since 1970.
The royal said: ‘I’m very lucky to take the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on from the Duke of Kent, but he’s been doing that for a very long time, he did it very well and has covered the globe in support of them.
‘And I’m perfectly certain he was really reluctant to give that up, but in the end, he felt physically that he couldn’t travel as much, and he couldn’t be as efficient in supporting – and I was lucky enough to be asked.
‘On the one hand you go for as long as you can, but you have to accept there are some things you can’t do anymore, and he did that, and I’m the beneficiary of that which has allowed me to take that on.’
Anne is a key member of the King’s slimmed-down working monarchy and has played an important role in stepping up in support of Charles amid his cancer diagnosis
The royal is also known for her no-nonsense approach and her commitment to royal duty.
She carried out her first public engagement in 1969 aged 18 when she opened an educational and training centre in Shropshire, and a year later, she began her longest association with a charity, becoming president of Save the Children and later patron.
Anne said: ‘I don’t think there’s a retirement programme on this particular life.’
‘You’re jolly lucky… if you can continue to be more or less compos mentis and last summer I was very close to not being.’
She added: ‘Take each day as it comes, they say.’
