Princess Anne's horse accident 'so much worse than public knew' as friend admits truth
Princess Anne is set to celebrate her 75th birthday next month, and while the hardest working royal shows no sign of slowing down, a serious incident last year reminded her that life is precious.
The Princess Royal was rushed to intensive care with a concussion last June following a serious incident with a horse at her home in Gloucestershire. She was treated for head injuries and has since admitted that she "can't remember a thing" from the accident.
Anne had set out alone and on foot to feed her chickens before becoming involved in an incident, where she is believed to have been struck from behind by a horse, that left her concussed and badly bruised.
In an interview back in January, Anne revealed the stark realisation she had after the incident: "It just reminds you, shows you — you never quite know, something [happens] and you might not recover.
"You're jolly lucky … if you can continue to be more or less compos mentis and last summer I was very close to not being. Take each day as it comes, they say. You are sharply reminded that every day is a bonus really."
And now a source close to Anne has revealed the true toll of her accident, claiming it was far worse than the public knew. They told The Times: "Her accident was so much worse than anyone let on and it took quite a while for her to feel herself again."
The devoted royal went back to work three weeks after the incident, nursing a bruised left eye and face, covered by heavy makeup. Her brave return to duties saw Prince William and Princess Kate write a rare personal message on social media nodding to her tireless dedication. "Super trooper! So great to see you back so soon. W&C x," they wrote.
Last month she returned to horseback riding in public for the first time at King Charles ' birthday event, Trooping the Colour. Anne joined the parade wearing the traditional Blues and Royals mounted uniform in her role as gold stick in waiting. She was was joined on horseback by Prince Edward and Prince William.
Anne's steed for the day was Noble, a horse that she rode in the parade last year, who earned a reputation for being 'naughty' after Charles had to control her at Trooping in 2023.
The new details about Anne's accident come after she returned to the intensive care unit where she was treated to "fill in the blanks" and thank medics for her care.
The Princess Royal spent five nights at Southmead Hospital in Bristol following the incident. On her return to the hospital in February, Anne met paramedics and members of the critical care team who treated her at the scene, as well as those who cared for her in the ICU, which had not previously been known.
The Princess told hospital staff that it was "useful" to meet them as she was still unable to recall what happened.
After touring the intensive care unit and chatting to several medics, including Morwenna Maddock, the ICU matron who oversaw her care, the Princess gave a short speech thanking them for their efforts.
You've been filling in the blanks, which partly, from my perspective, is really useful to know how it happened, because I seriously don't have any idea, and sadly, I don't have huge memories of being in here either," she said.
"But I just know I was really well looked after, so thank you. But whatever you did, it seemed to work…. the recovery has been relatively straightforward, thankfully. That isn't always true, so I'm really grateful.
"But I'm also grateful in a weird sort of way that I remember nothing, because that has huge advantages - you can just carry on."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Prince Andrew escapes bombshell book revelations by secretly fleeing to Balmoral
The Duke of York is having his reputation shredded again thanks to a bombshell new book which made a number of startling claims about his life. Prince Andrew has fled from Royal Lodge up to Balmoral to spend the end of summer with the rest of the Royal Family, according to reports. Andrew is having his reputation shredded once again thanks to a bombshell new book which made a number of startling claims about his life. Last time the Duke of York was embroiled in such a scandal was last December when he was linked to an alleged Chinese spy who was named following a High Court judgement. The backlash was so heavy that, to avoid being a distraction, he "honourably withdrew" from joining the Firm at their annual gathering in Sandringham last Christmas. However, as reported by the Scottish Daily Express, this time around he has been allowed to join King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the Royal Family at Balmoral despite facing a string of sordid revelations about him. These include allegations that he is a sex addict and ended up in a physical fight with Prince Harry. Historian Andrew Lownie's book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, includes a number of never-before-heard stories about Andrew's life, including his close friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, as well as his mysterious financial dealings with foreign billionaires from the likes of Kazakhstan. It also details how he treated and "bullied" Palace staff, had a vulgar sense of humour and enjoyed sexual relations with other women while married to Fergie. He was also "punched in the nose" by Prince Harry during a heated fall-out, although this has been denied by Harry. According to the Daily Mail's Richard Eden, Andrew "arrived at Balmoral on Friday." He "was on his own, with none of the security he used to have. He is believed to be staying at a lodge on the estate." His arrival was three days before King Charles headed up north. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. His ex-wife Fergie and their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will join him later this week. The monarch received an official welcome to Balmoral Castle on Monday, marking the start of his regular summer holiday in the late Queen's favourite haunt. He wore a tweed jacket and a tartan kilt, with the King also inspecting a Guard of Honour formed of Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland during a ceremony outside the Castle Gates. He greeted their mascot, Shetland pony Corporal Cruachan IV. Queen Camila was not with Charles as she was out on a shopping trip with her daughter Laura and her grandchildren in the nearby village of Ballater. The King is likely to spend most of his holiday at his beloved Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate. A source told the Mail: "It remains to be seen whether Andrew spends any time at all with his brother."
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Davina McCall makes brave death admission after undergoing major brain surgery
Mum-of-three, Davina McCall, has opened up about the major surgery she had in November to remove a rare brain tumour, which affects only three in a million people Davina McCall has revealed that she is no longer afraid of dying after her major brain surgery last year. The mum-of-three, 57, told fans in November that doctors had discovered a 'very rare' colloid cyst that affects only three in a million people and would require a potentially life-saving operation. Explaining that her prime concern was her three children before she had the surgery to remove the benign cyst, Davina said her mind 'went into forensic mode', wondering if 23-year-old Holly, Tilly, 21, and Chester, 18, who she shares with her ex-husband, Matthew Robertson, would be ok. Speaking on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, revealing she made an 'end of life' check list, she shared: "I had to make sure that my kids were going to be OK if I did not make it. That is all I really cared about. I knew my partner, Michael, would be OK as he is a whole person, but I was really worried about my kids." It comes as the heartbreaking reason for the postponement of Ozzy Osbourne's posthumous documentary was revealed. Davina continued: 'I went forensic on thinking about my children and where they were at in their life, what stage they were at. You're only as happy as your unhappiest child, right? 'I came to a realisation after about six months of cross-examining them about their life and telling them the whole time how much I've loved my life. "My eldest daughter kept caught on. She was like, 'you are not dying', I was like, 'no, no, no', I realised that they would be great." Ultimately, Davina said her check list, which included three heartfelt letters to her children, was complete after she made peace with the fact that they would survive without her. She concluded: "I am not afraid of dying anymore. It was the biggest journey of my life. It was an amazing time. "I have been on a massive life journey, and I have been through terrible struggles. That is where the learning comes from. "If something really hard happens now, I know it is a good thing." If the operation, which lasted for five hours, had not been successful, Davina could have suffered a stroke or lost her ability to 'hold a short-term memory beyond five minutes'. However, if the cyst had remained undetected, or if the Long Lost Family star had chosen not to have it removed, she could have died 'suddenly' without any warning or chance to say goodbye to her family and friends, according to The Times. Speaking about the removal of the tumour while co-presenting this year's Red Nose Day for Comic Relief, Davina admitted it was 'the hardest thing I've ever been through' as she thanked her family for supporting her.
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
This Morning chef shares what she 'didn't realise' about Princess Anne after meeting
TV chef Rustie Lee met Princess Anne when she performed at an event sponsored by the royal, encountering her again a number of years later when performing on stage This Morning chef Rustie Lee has revealed what Princess Anne said when the pair met. The TV chef and Princess Royal met at the Royal Night of 100 Stars in 1985. Rustie, who rose to fame on TV-am in the 1980s, sang What I'll Do and Always at the televised fundraiser for Save the Children at the National Theatre. Anne, 75, sponsored the event as the president of the charity. After the show, Rustie, who says she was the only performer to sing with the orchestra, claimed the audience were shocked to realise she could sing as well as cook. Writing in Best magazine, she explained they 'only saw me as Rustie the chef in those days'. Her talent was something that appeared to shock the Princess Royal as well. Rustie added: 'And when I met Princess Anne afterwards, she said to me: 'I didn't realise you could sing.' 'And I thought, 'Oh my goodness, I didn't realise you knew me,' which was rather lovely. I was fortunate enough to meet Anne again in Birmingham at the Alexandra Theatre years after that, and she remembered me.' Rustie says she had a third encounter with Anne at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. She says she was on a bus as part of the procession when she waved at Princess Anne who was with the Royal Family. She believes she spotted the princess waving back at her. She says it was a 'lovely' gesture from a royal known for her no-nonsense attitude. Rustie went on to explain that singing in front of the crowd outside Buckingham Palace was 'phenomenal', summing up the experience as 'something else'. Rustie, 76, has appeared on a whole host of TV shows throughout the years. She served as a chef and cooking expert on the 1983 version of Good Morning Britain until 1989, returning two years after her departure. She has also appeared in shows such as Who's Doing the Dishes and Celebrity Big Brother before becoming a regular face on This Morning. Her cooking career began as a youngster when she would help her parents making curry patties in their family takeaway. She studied at the College of Food in Birmingham to become a master baker. She says food has always been a huge part of her career even when she was touring the country as a singer. Princess Anne isn't the only famous face Rustie has encountered during her career either. She revealed that iconic boxer Muhammad Ali once visited her restaurant. She described the sports star as 'more than a dream dinner guest' when asked about the meeting. Rustie says more than 2,000 people waited outside the venue while Ali ate his food. She described the moment as 'phenomenal'.
