LONDON (AP) — Princess Anne An accident, thought to be a horse trip, left her with a concussion, further straining Britain’s royal family. Health problems King Charles III and the Princess of Wales continue to limit public appearances.
The king’s 73-year-old sister was hospitalized as a precaution and is expected to make a full recovery after being injured Sunday while walking in her Gatcombe Park estate in southwest England, Buckingham Palace said Monday. The cause of Anne’s injuries was unclear, but doctors said her injuries were caused by impact from the horse’s head or legs.
“Closely informed of the King, the Princess joins the entire Royal Family in sending her warmest love and best wishes for a speedy recovery,” the palace said in a statement.
The accident is the latest health scare to hit the House of Windsor in recent months, with both Charles and Prince William’s wife Kate, is undergoing treatment for cancer. This reduces the ability of Anne and the Royal Family to continue full public appearances. Queen Camilla Charles and Kate have taken more time to focus on their health.
Anne, in particular, will be missed as she was a very hard-working member of the royal family last year.
While she may not have the status of Charles or the glamor of William and Kate, Anne is known for her businesslike approach to busy public events. According to figures compiled by the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Anne took part in 457 royal engagements last year.
As a result of her injuries, Anne was forced to cancel an appearance at a state dinner in honor of Japan’s emperor on Tuesday, as well as a planned trip to Canada later in the week.
“There will definitely be some kind of hiatus in the royal family line over the next few days,” royal expert Robert Hartman told the BBC. “But you know, obviously she needs to heal.”
Anne has maintained her status as a Royal Family icon for decades, presenting awards, making ceremonial appearances and making engagements that make up the modern royal vortex.
As Chair of the British Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee, Anne was instrumental in helping London win its bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, and later brought her experience as an Olympic equestrian to the team that organized the Games.
Committee chairman Sebastian Coe praised his stamina, at one point joking that he would have opened three hospitals by the time he arrived for an average midday board meeting.
“Essentially, she sees the world through the eyes of a competitor,” he said at the time.
Anne was a member of the British Olympic team in 1976, competing in the three-day equestrian event at the Montreal Games.
She fondly remembers the experience when she was thrown from her horse, Goodwill, and got stuck in the mud. Ann reloads and completes the event, but later claims she remembers nothing about the day.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s lights out,” he said later.
Ann is known to always speak her mind, even in serious situations such as the attempted kidnapping in 1974. When the assailant opened her car door and asked her to come with him, Ann refused.
“I said I didn’t want to go,” he said in an interview. “I was very polite. I thought, hmm, to be very rude at that point.
Even so, Britain’s powerful tabloids sometimes mocked Anne when they noticed her ostentatious and commercial clothing choices. She draws less attention than many.
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