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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Thomas Markle disputes claim Meghan ‘achieved everything on her own’
Meghan Markle’s father has disputed her claim that she “achieved everything on her own” when it came to her acting career.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, rose to fame on Suits before giving up her career to marry Prince Harry, although there has been intense speculation about whether she will return to acting now that she is no longer a working royal.
“She makes out she achieved everything on her own, but one of the directors of General Hospital, Owen Renfroe, gave her one line to read which helped her to get an actor’s union card,” Thomas Markle, 79, told the Daily Mail.
“That was what started her career.”
Harry and Meghan slammed for plans to send children to ‘prestigious’ private school
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have come under fire for their alleged plans to send Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to a “prestigious” private school.
Royal commentator Lee Cohen said this undermines their apparent commitment to progressive causes.
“Their supposed commitment to progressive causes is nothing but a facade. If they’re willing to indulge in this epitome of elitism, there is no advocating for equality,” he told GB News.
Thomas Markle says there was ‘no bad blood’ in family until Meghan met Harry
Thomas Markle has claimed that there was “no bad blood” between him and his daughter until she got into a relationship with Prince Harry.
Markle, 79, who has been estranged from Meghan since 2018, expressed his hope to meet his two grandchildren ahead of his 80th birthday.
Reflecting on his relationship with his daughter in the Daily Mail, he said: “[Doria and I] had such an amicable divorce that after I retired to Mexico and had to go to LA, I would stay with Doria and she’d cook me dinner.
“I always provided well for Meghan and Doria and was happy to do so. There was never any bad blood between us until Meghan met Harry.”
The pair’s relationship fell apart completely following a staged paparazzi photoshoot, but Thomas has expressed a desire to reconcile.
Prince Harry and Prince William’s relationship ‘gone for good'
Prince Harry and Prince William’s once friendly relationship is “gone for good”, an insider has claimed.
This comes amid reports that the Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle are “running out of time” to reconcile with the royals.
“Whatever might happen in the future, the trust that was implicit in his relationship with Harry is gone for good,” the insider told the Daily Mail.
“Even if it is possible that some kind of managed reconciliation could be achieved, it will be never anything more than superficial.”
The brothers’ relationship has grown increasingly frosty since Prince Harry stepped down as a working royal in 2020 and subsequently told all about his time in the family to Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and again in his 2023 memoir Spare.
Air ambulance sent to Princess Anne’s estate
Locals have reported that an air ambulance was sent to Princess Anne’s Gloucestershire estate after she was kicked by a horse yesterday evening.
It is believed that while the vehicle was dispatched to the Gatcombe Park estate just after 9 pm, it was not used by the Princess Royal.
As reported by the Telegraph, a local man said: “I saw an air ambulance landing on her estate and I thought ‘oh my goodness, I hope it’s not Anne’.
“And then the police helicopter started circling about ten minutes later and I thought the worst. I thought something awful must have happened and I was worried a criminal might be on the loose, but the police helicopter was off pretty quickly.”
While the princess is currently in hospital, she is expected to make a full and swift recovery after sustaining a concussion and minor injuries.
The local man added: “The air ambulance was on the ground for about 40 minutes I think - I’m not sure if it took her to hospital but didn’t look like it did as it flew off the other way.
“I really hope she’s going to be okay.”
Princess Anne’s reaction to gunman’s kidnapping
Following the news that Princess Anne has been hospitalised with minor injuries, royal commentators have been reflecting on her strength of character.
This was brilliantly displayed back in 1974 when a gunman attempted to kidnap her for ransom from her car on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace.
When he asked the princess, then 23, to get out of her Austin Princess, she simply replied: “Not bloody likely.”
Thomas Markle reaches out to King Charles
Meghan Markle’s father has reached out to King Charles amid his ongoing estrangement from his daughter.
The pair have been on sour terms since Meghan’s 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, when Thomas Markle, now 79, posed for staged paparazzi photographs.
He has now said via a new interview that he would “love” to speak to the Monarch, citing their shared health concerns and “unanswered questions.”
“I would love to speak to him because I am sure he has as many unanswered questions as I do,” he told the Daily Mail.
“Neither of us deserves the treatment we’ve received.
“He is going through cancer treatment and I’m not in the best of health.”
Equine behaviourist reveals why horses kick – and the warning signs
Following the news that Princess Anne has been hospitalised after being kicked by a horse, an equine behaviourist has explained why it can happen.
Chloe Campbell said that horses behave in this way when they “feel threatened, scared or are in pain.”
Those who spend time around the animals are advised to look out for warning signs including “pinned ears, tense facial muscles, swishing tails or shifting weight”.
Ms Campbell told the PA news agency: “As an equine behaviourist, my thoughts are with the princess and her family during this difficult time.
“This incident is an important reminder of the importance of understanding equine behaviour and ensuring the horse is in a suitable environment.”
She added: “Horses are naturally gentle animals and a prey species, but they can react unpredictably if they feel threatened, scared or are in pain.
“To the average eye, this may seem unpredictable, although to the trained eye, overt behaviours such as kicking can usually be predicted with precursor behaviours, such as tail swishing.”
The Princess Royal is expected to make a full and swift recovery after sustaining minor injuries and a concussion.
Princess Anne being treated at Bristol NHS hospital
Princess Anne is being treated at an NHS hospital in Bristol after being kicked by a horse at her Gloucestershire estate yesterday evening.
The Princess Royal, 73, has been admitted to Southmead Hospital, which is part of the North Bristol NHS Trust.
She is reported to have sustained a concussion and other minor injuries as a result of the incident, but the hospital specialises in neuroscience.
The princess is expected to make a full recovery and Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles is being “closely informed” about her progress.
Princess Anne receives good wishes amid hospitalisation
Princess Anne is receiving countless well wishes after it emerged this afternoon that she has been hospitalised after being kicked by a horse.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Everyone in the country is immensely fond of Her Royal Highness.
“We’re all sending her our best wishes for a swift recovery.”
These sentiments were echoed by the Labour leader Keir Starmer, who said: “Wishing Her Royal Highness a speedy recovery and sending my best wishes on behalf of all of us at the Labour Party.”
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