A much-loved member of the Royal Family who suffered a health blow has been spotted for the first time on crutches. Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the husband of Princess Anne, was forced to pull out of a trip to South Africa with his wife last month after suffering an injury - in another health woe for the Firm. It emerged that the former naval officer had suffered a suspected torn ligament while working on Anne's Gatcombe estate and had to remain in the UK for treatment rather than join his wife on the visit as he was unable to fly.
However, several weeks on from the incident, Sir Tim has been seen out and about with the help of a pair of crutches. He was spotted in pictures posted on X visiting the Science and Innovation Park in Wroughton, Swindon, where he posed for snaps. But despite having to use the crutches, he appeared in high spirits smiling for the camera. Sir Tim is often a discrete support at his wife's side as she travels up and down the country and across the world, which often earns her the title of the hardest-working royal.
Despite his low-profile nature, it seems Sir Tim holds a special place in theRoyal Family, with the late Queen seemingly fond of him. Although he didn't receive a royal title upon marriage, he was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and was also a personal aide-de-camp to the late Queen. It is on these royal engagements with hardest-working royal Anne where Sir Tim offers his support with some even describing him as "invisible". However, much like the late Queen, he is well-known for his good sense of humour and had crowds in stitches when he stood in for Anne at Founder's Day at The Royal Hospital Chelsea several years ago.
Giving the speech, he joked: "Asking me to stand in for my wife at an event like this is a bit like asking Mrs Harry Kane to lead the England football team out. Or, possibly, to take a penalty for England as her husband did the night before last. I don't know Mrs Kane, and for all I know she may well have a very strong right foot, but in any case I'm sure she'd do her best, and so will I.". He retired from the navy in 2010 and is now the chairman of the English Heritage Trust and was the former vice chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. However, no doubt the time when most support was needed for his wife was after the death of her beloved mother the Queen in 2022.
Sir Tim accompanied Anne as she joined her mother's coffin for its six hour long drive from Balmoral, where she died, and through the breathtaking Scottish countryside to Edinburgh, where she rested before being take to London. He joined his wife again as the coffin was brought to London on an RAF flight from north of the border and was there in solidarity walking behind the monarch's coffin during her funeral.
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