Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Princess Royal visited by husband after third night in hospital

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence arrived at Southmead Hospital in Bristol at around 11.30am on Wednesday.

Laura Elston
Wednesday 26 June 2024 12:15 BST
The Princess Royal is being treated for concussion (David Davies/PA)
The Princess Royal is being treated for concussion (David Davies/PA) (PA Archive)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

The Princess Royal was visited by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, on Wednesday after spending a third night in hospital.

Anne, 73, has been in Southmead Hospital in Bristol since Sunday evening after being hurt while walking on her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.

Sir Tim drove to the main entrance of the hospital’s Brunel building in a Range Rover shortly after 11.30am, having also spent time with his wife on Tuesday and accompanying her when she was rushed to hospital on Sunday.

Stepping from his car, he carried a small navy blue day bag as he entered the hospital without speaking to awaiting media.

Anne’s concussion has meant precise details of how the incident came about are not clear.

The princess’s medical team said her head injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.

Anne is a skilled horsewoman who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Dubbed the King’s right-hand woman, she is a seen as the hardest working royal and known for her dedication to duty and no-nonsense approach.

Sir Tim said on Tuesday that the princess was “doing fine, slow but sure” and was seen carrying a cool bag as he revealed he had taken her a “few little treats from home”.

Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, also travelled to see her the same day.

Sir Tim later added that the princess was “recovering well”.

“We are both profoundly grateful to the medical team and hospital support staff for their expert care – and to the emergency services who were all so wonderful at the scene,” he said.

“We are both deeply touched by all the kind messages we have received from so many people near and far. It means a great deal.”

An air ambulance was scrambled to take the princess to hospital, but in the end she travelled by road after being treated at the scene.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in