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Royal news live: Princess Anne’s husband gives health update as she remains in hospital for fourth day

The princess sustained a concussion and minor injuries on Sunday evening

Emma Guinness
Wednesday 26 June 2024 16:10
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Princess Anne in hospital with concussion after ‘being kicked by horse’

Buckingham Palace confirmed that Princess Anne remains in hospital this afternoon and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence admitted that she is “recovering slowly”.

The royal, 73, was admitted on Sunday night after sustaining a concussion and minor injuries after being kicked by a horse at her Gatcombe Park estate.

The Palace announced that the princess’s engagements for the week have been postponed, including a trip to Canada which was scheduled to begin on 30 June.

When asked by reporters when Anne will leave the hospital, Laurence said: “She’ll be out when she’s ready.”

The Princess Royal’s unexpected hospitalisation comes amid a three-day state visit of the emperor of Japan.

Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako were yesterday welcomed to the UK by Prince William, who escorted them to Horse Guards Parade.

They received a ceremonial welcome from King Charles and Queen Camilla to mark the start of their three-day visit, and Charles mentioned his grandchildren liking the Japanese franchise Pokémon in a speech.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s popularity plummets

A new poll of the popularity levels of members of the royal family has shown that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have dramatically fallen out of favour with the public.

This comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as working royals in 2020.

In a recent YouGov poll, just 31 percent of the British public said they saw Harry in a favourable light and just 26 percent of respondents had a positive response to Meghan.

“It is the biggest plummet in popularity in history,” Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told the Express. “To have gone from the number one most popular royals after the Queen, Harry has now gone to just above Prince Andrew.”

Harry and Meghan appear to have fallen out of favour with the British public.
Harry and Meghan appear to have fallen out of favour with the British public. (Getty Images for The Archewell F)
Emma Guinness26 June 2024 04:00
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Princess Anne’s 1976 concussion

Princess Anne is currently recovering after she was kicked by a horse on her Gloucestershire estate on Sunday night.

It was later revealed that she had suffered a concussion and minor injuries.

But this is not the first time that the royal’s love of horses has seen her injured.

She also suffered a concussion while riding in her 1976 Olympic debut.

Reflecting on the experience at the equestrian event where she also suffered a cracked vertebra, she said her memory was “almost non-existent for that day.”

Princess Anne has suffered a concussion from a horse before.
Princess Anne has suffered a concussion from a horse before. (PA)
Emma Guinness26 June 2024 02:00
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Prince Harry ‘refuses to be cast aside’, expert claims

Prince Harry “refuses to be cast aside” amid his seemingly frosty relationship with the royal family.

The insider claims that he is now planning a trip to the UK to try and patch things up after he saw none of his immediate family on his most recent trip to the UK.

He has not seen his father, King Charles, since he announced his cancer diagnosis in February.

The insider told Closer magazine: “He can’t believe it’s come to this, and he’s now saying he’s going to fly over and force them to face him.

“He’s still a prince, after all; they’re still his family, and whether they like it or not, he’s refusing to just be cast aside.”

Prince Harry is reportedly planning a trip to the UK to confront his family.
Prince Harry is reportedly planning a trip to the UK to confront his family. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Emma Guinness26 June 2024 00:00
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Princess Charlotte the biggest royal Taylor Swift fan

Prince William might have stolen the show with his dad dancing at Taylor Swift’s Wembley concert on Friday, but the biggest fan in the Wales family is reportedly Princess Charlotte.

The family attended the concert on the heir to the throne’s 42nd birthday, but the Princess of Wales and Prince Louis, who some speculated was too young for the event, were notably absent.

“Princess Charlotte is the huge Taylor Swift fan in the family,” a source told Entertainment Tonight.

“She has wanted to go to the concert for months, but with her mum being treated for cancer, this was a really special day to be able to celebrate her Papa’s birthday like this.”

Taylor Swift took a selfie with the royals and her boyfriend Travis Kelce.
Taylor Swift took a selfie with the royals and her boyfriend Travis Kelce. (@taylorswift13/X)
Emma Guinness26 June 2024 00:00
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Prince Harry ‘may explain’ Thomas Markle snub in future memoir

Thomas Markle has pleaded with his estranged daughter to let him meet his grandchildren ahead of his 80th birthday.

Now, a royal expert has claimed that Prince Harry “may explain” the couple’s ongoing estrangement from the 79-year-old in a future memoir.

Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News: “Before the engagement, it has never been explained why Harry has never met Thomas Markle.

“That is something that perhaps will be explained in a future memoir, but this is all very sad business.

“It’s not going to be resolved.”

He added: “As far as the wider royal drift is concerned, the Royal Family have other priorities at the moment, putting it mildly.”

Thomas Markle has never met Prince Archie or Princess Lilibet.
Thomas Markle has never met Prince Archie or Princess Lilibet. (Channel 5)

Emma Guinness25 June 2024 22:00
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Why today is critical in Princess Anne's recovery, according to concussion expert

An expert has explained why today is critical in Princess Anne’s recovery from a concussion sustained by a kick from a horse.

The Princess Royal, 73, has now spent two nights in hospital following the Sunday evening incident at her Gloucestershire estate.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, brain and cognition expert Natalie Mackenzie explained that the first 48 hours after a concussion are a critical time for monitoring.

“Generally, you would look to monitor symptoms for about 48 hours,” she explained. “Concussion symptoms should resolve within two weeks but not require a hospital stay.

“But of course, they’re going to be cautious with a royal.”

Princess Anne is reported to have suffered minor injuries as well as a concussion.
Princess Anne is reported to have suffered minor injuries as well as a concussion. (AP)
Emma Guinness25 June 2024 20:00
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Prince Harry denied hugs as a child – ‘Distance was essential'

Following Prince Harry’s increasingly frosty relations with the royal family, more claims are being resurfaced from his 2023 memoir Spare.

These include the revelation that he was denied hugs and other forms of physical intimacy as a child.

Harry wrote: “As a Royal, you were always taught to maintain a buffer zone between you and the rest of Creation. Even working a crowd you always kept a discreet distance between Yourself and Them.”

He added: “Family included distance as well.

“No matter how much you might love someone, you could never cross that chasm between, say, monarch and child. Or Heir and Spare. Physically, but also emotionally.”

The Duke of Sussex asserted that the formality was particularly prevalent among older generations of the family who “maintained a nearly zero-tolerance prohibition on all physical contact.”

Prince Harry stepped down as a working royal in 2020.
Prince Harry stepped down as a working royal in 2020. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Emma Guinness25 June 2024 18:00
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Princess Anne ‘livid’ after being kicked by horse

Princess Anne’s upcoming engagements for the week have been postponed after she was kicked by a horse on Sunday evening.

The Princess Royal, 73, has now spent two nights in hospital after the incident that Buckingham Palace said left her with a concussion and minor injuries.

Now, Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary has said Anne, who is widely regarded to be one of the most hardworking royals, will be “livid” in the wake of the incident.

Ailsa Anderson-Cole told the Daily Mail: “She will be livid at not being able to fulfil her commitments... and loathes letting people down.”

The incident took place on Sunday evening as the Princess Royal walked around her estate.
The incident took place on Sunday evening as the Princess Royal walked around her estate. (Getty Images)
Emma Guinness25 June 2024 17:00
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Princess Anne and Kate Middleton miss Japanese state visit

The Japanese state visit to the UK is officially underway but two senior members of the royal family are notably absent.

While the Princess of Wales’s absence was expected in light of her ongoing cancer treatment, Princess Anne was forced to pull out of the event at the last minute after being kicked by a horse on her Gloucestershire estate on Sunday.

Princess Anne and Kate Middleton have been prevented from attending the state visit by health concerns.
Princess Anne and Kate Middleton have been prevented from attending the state visit by health concerns. (via REUTERS)
Emma Guinness25 June 2024 16:00
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Princess Anne’s husband gives health update

Princess Anne’s husband has given an update on her health after she spent a second night in hospital after being kicked by a horse.

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence told reporters outside Southmead Hospital in Bristol: “She’s doing fine. Slow, but sure.”

Buckingham Palace announced the princess’s hospitalisation yesterday, revealing that she had suffered a concussion and minor injuries.

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence leaves Southmead Hospital in Bristol (Ben Birchall/PA)
Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence leaves Southmead Hospital in Bristol (Ben Birchall/PA) (PA Wire)
Emma Guinness25 June 2024 15:29

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