Princess Anne's injuries after mystery horse accident were 'so much worse' than the public knew
The Princess Royal, 74, was admitted to intensive care last June with concussion and head injuries after reportedly being kicked by a horse at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.
She was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for tests, treatment and observation, before returning to duties that July.
Now, a source said to know Anne well has told The Sunday Times that her accident was 'so much worse' than worse initially revealed at the time.
They said: 'Her accident was so much worse than anyone let on and it took quite a while for her to feel herself again.'
Following her accident, Anne was forced to miss at least nine engagements, including a trip to Canada and a banquet for the Japanese State Visit in London.
When Anne returned to work in July, she was seen sporting a black eye.
Prince William and Kate shared a rare personal message on X/Twitter, writing: 'Super trooper! So great to see you back so soon. W&C x.'
The royal, a skilled horsewoman who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, was going for a walk when the incident occurred.
The Princess Royal is often regarded as the 'hardest working' member of the royal family, despite being a decade past the age of retirement.
Last year, Anne clocked up 474 engagements, with King Charles completing 372.
A former aide told the Times that they would often suggest Anne should tone-down her workload - but all to no avail.
They said: 'I'd look at the diary and suggest, "Ma'am, you really can't do another weekend of engagements, it's your third weekend in a row."
'"Why not?" she would say. 'Because I'll get a rocket from your husband on Monday asking, "When are we going to spend some time together".'
She has been a cornerstone in the King's slimmed-down working monarchy, and has played a big role by stepping up in support of Charles amid his cancer diagnosis.
The Princess is known for her no-nonsense approach and her commitment to royal duty, and the King made a point of making public his 'fondest love and well-wishes' for his sister after her accident.
Anne was understood at the time to have been taking an evening stroll on her estate with horses nearby when she was hurt.
The Princess was left with minor wounds to the head. Her medical team are understood to believe the injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse's head or legs.
In January, speaking out about the accident for the first time, Anne said she remembers 'nothing' about it.
Talking at the Grand Military Cup Day at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey, after a whirlwind trip to South Africa, Anne revealed that she was on the way to see chickens on her estate when the accident happened.
When questioned whether the last thing she recalled was walking into a field, Anne said: 'No, I don't even remember that.
'I know where I thought I was going and that was to go to the chickens, no, nothing to do with horses.'
She added that seeing the chickens was 'my regular visit, I don't have any idea what I was doing in the field, because I never normally went that way.
'It just... shows you - you never quite know, something [happens], and you might not recover.'
Anne spent five nights in hospital after the accident on June 23 and did not return to public royal duties until almost three weeks later.
Asked about any lasting ill effects, she lightened the mood and joked: 'Apparently not, at least I don't think so. As far as I know, nobody else thinks so - they haven't been honest enough to tell me yet. So far so good.'
She added: 'You are sharply reminded that every day is a bonus really.'
Interviewed after a whirlwind two-day tour of Cape Town, Anne also discussed her future and was asked whether retirement was an option, she replied: 'It really isn't written in, no. It isn't really an option, no, I don't think so.
Her father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, did retire from royal duties in 2017, but he was 96 when he took the decision and had supported Queen Elizabeth II for more than 65 years at the time.
Anne is known for her busy work schedule, and as she approaches her 75th birthday in August, the royal will continue to lead the monarchy in various engagements.
She carried out her first public engagement in 1969 aged 18 when she opened an educational and training centre in Shropshire, and a year later, she began her longest association with a charity, becoming president of Save the Children and later patron.
Anne has two children - Peter Phillips, 47, and Zara Tindall, 44 - from her first marriage to Captain Mark Phillips, before their divorce in 1992. She has been married to Sir Timothy Laurence since December that year.
Anne said: 'I don't think there's a retirement programme on this particular life.'
'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.'
She added: 'Take each day as it comes, they say.'
Last month royal fans praised Anne's unwavering dedication to royal duties as she joined the King's birthday parade on horseback - one year after being hit in the head by a horse.
They compared the 74-year-old - who is the late Queen Elizabeth II 's only daughter - to Princess Charlotte, the 10-year-old daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The Princess Royal was the picture of grace as she rode through the procession in full military regalia while saluting the adoring crowd that gathered in central London to catch a glimpse of Britain's most famous family.
The Princess did not shy away from the task of representing the family at the Trooping the Colour festivities on Saturday - as fans noted the similarities between Charlotte and the 'hardest-working' royal.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one person wrote online: 'I think the daughter Princess [Charlotte] will be a force, just like Princess Anne is.'
Another made the same connection, writing of the youngster's parade appearance: 'Princess Charlotte is giving Princess Anne vibes here! She is such a beautiful little girl!'
Many pointed to the apparent fortitude of the female royals, with one fan saying: 'The females are the strength, including Princess Anne.'
A classic picture of tradition and elegance, Anne has a loyal fanbase.
One watcher of the elaborate procession wrote: 'Princess Anne is such an amazing lady. Dedicated, loyal, and hard working. A credit to the Royal family.'
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