Royal news – live: Princess Anne in hospital after being kicked by horse as Charles welcomes Japan’s emperor
The princess is reported to have spent a second night in a Bristol hospital
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Princess Anne remains in hospital after being kicked by a horse on Sunday evening as King Charles welcomes the Japanese emperor for his state visit.
The Princess Royal, 73, suffered minor injuries to her head and a concussion after the incident at her Gatcombe Park estate.
Royal expert Michael Cole suggested to the Metro that the Palace may be downplaying her injuries: “The fact the Princess Royal was detained in hospital overnight indicates that it’s not a minor matter.”
He added: “It’s no small thing to have a concussion at any age, but at the age of 73, it could be serious.”
Meanwhile, Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako were welcomed to the UK by Prince William who escorted them to Horse Guard’s Parade.
They proceeded to enjoy a ceremonial welcome from King Charles and Queen Camilla to mark the start of their three-day visit and retreated for a private lunch inside Buckingham Palace.
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In pictures: Charles and Camilla arrive at Horse Guards Parade
London is ready to welcome the emperor and empress of Japan on what will be King Charles’s first state visit since his cancer diagnosis.
Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako will be met at their London hotel and escorted to Horse Guard’s Parade by none other than Prince William.
They are set to enjoy a state banquet later this evening.
Princess Anne will notably be absent following her hospitalisation after being kicked by a horse on Sunday.
Buckingham Palace prepares for Japanese state visit
The Mall has been adorned with Japanese flags to welcome Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako on their state visit, which begins today.
The couple will be greeted by Prince William at their hotel before being escorted to Horse Guards Parade.
Princess Royal’s engagements postponed for the next week
Buckingham Palace announced yesterday that Princess Anne’s engagements for the week will be postponed after a horse kicked her on Sunday evening.
She has now spent a second night in hospital following the incident, which is the latest health woe to strike the family this year.
A Palace spokesman said: “On doctors’ advice, Her Royal Highness’s engagements for the week ahead will be postponed. Her Royal Highness sends her apologies to any who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.
“The Japanese State Visit will go ahead as planned, though sadly Her Royal Highness will be unable to attend the State banquet tomorrow.”
Princess Anne spends a second night in hospital
Princess Anne has spent a second night in hospital after being kicked by a horse on her Gatcombe Park estate.
News of the Sunday night incident was broken by Buckingham Palace yesterday in a statement where they said the Princess Royal, 73, is expected to make a full and swift recovery.
She is reported to have suffered a concussion and minor injuries and is understood to be awake in hospital.
Her medical team confirmed to the media that her injuries were consistent with being kicked by a horse’s head or legs.
An air ambulance was dispatched to her Gloucestershire estate at the time of the incident, as well as other emergency services, and she was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.
It is believed that she was kicked while walking on the estate.
No one else is reported to have been injured.
Prince Charles to undertake series of engagements in Scotland
King Charles will undertake a series of engagements in Scotland on his upcoming annual visit, Buckingham Palace has announced.
While the number of engagements is reduced because of the upcoming General Election, several will still take place.
They include a royal garden party in Edinburgh on the 2nd and 3rd of July.
The King and Queen Consort will also mark the 900th anniversary of the capital’s establishment in the 12th century at a ceremony.
It is an annual tradition for the reigning Monarch to spend a week at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh – a period known as Holyrood Week or Royal Week in Scotland.
Princess Anne’s injuries ‘not a minor matter’, expert claims
Following yesterday’s news that Princess Anne has been hospitalised after being kicked by a horse, a royal expert has said her injuries are “not a minor matter”.
The Princess Royal, 73, suffered a concussion and minor injuries, with later reports claiming that she experienced temporary memory loss as a result of the Sunday night incident on her Gatcombe Park estate.
Now, royal expert Michael Cole has implied that Buckingham Palace could be downplaying her injuries and said the incident “could be serious” at Anne’s age.
The princess has spent a second night in a Bristol hopsital following the incident.
Mr Cole told the Metro: “The fact the Princess Royal was detained in hospital overnight indicates that it’s not a minor matter.
“With concussion, it can be just a bang on the head and you see stars for a few minutes – but it can be something more serious.
“They’re not going to be taking any chances and they’re keeping her in. I haven’t heard that she’s been released from the hospital in Bristol and maybe it will be an extended stay.”
He added: “She’s probably in the best place at this time for a proper assessment because it’s no small thing to have a concussion at any age, but at the age of 73, it could be serious.”
‘Fear’ is reportedly stopping Prince Harry from visiting the UK
Following Prince Harry’s decision to move to California in 2020 after stepping down as a working royal, he has been visiting the UK less and less.
Now one royal expert has weighed in on his increasingly sparse visits and said that they are the result of a core safety fear.
Tom Quinn explained that this fear is so strong that Harry adopted a disguise when he was last in the country to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
He told the Mirror: “Harry is completely obsessed with the idea that any visit to the UK is fraught with security difficulties – hence his continued legal action to challenge the UK government’s decision not to fund his security.
“Harry hates the idea of hotels – last time he stayed in a hotel on a visit to the UK he had to leave and arrive virtually in disguise. The problems are even bigger if he plans to stay with friends as he’s convinced, he is always being watched by the media and that they will find out where he’s staying.”
Duke and Duchess of Westminister top Tatler social power index
The Duke and Duchess of Westminster have grabbed the top spot on Tatler’s power list defeating King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Tatler magazine described the list as “an annual report into where the real power lies in British society”.
Thousands of people lined the streets of Chester for the wedding of Duke and Duchess in June where the Prince of Wales acted as an usher.
The crowd cheered as billionaire aristocrat Hugh Grosvenor, 33, and his new bride Olivia Henson, 31, kissed outside after the ceremony.
Princess Anne’s recovery continues at the hospital
Princess Anne is thought to have spent a second night in hospital after suffering minor injuries to her head and concussion when it is believed she was kicked by a horse on her Gatcombe Park estate.
Anne, a skilled horsewoman who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, was walking on her Gloucestershire estate on Sunday evening when she was injured.
It is understood the princess was walking within the protected perimeter of Gatcombe Park estate when the incident occurred, and no other individual is believed to have been involved.
Her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, who was on the estate at the time, went with her to hospital.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “Her Royal Highness is recovering well, is in a comfortable condition and is being kept in hospital as a precautionary measure for further observation.”
The spokesperson added: “Her Royal Highness is receiving appropriate expert care. No further details are being shared at this stage.
“Her Royal Highness will remain in Southmead Hospital unless or until her medical team advise otherwise.”
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