Anne ‘fills in blanks’ on return to intensive care unit to thank staff for care
Anne ‘fills in blanks’ on return to intensive care unit to thank staff for care
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The Princess Royal has returned to the intensive care unit where she was treated after her horse-related accident to thank NHS staff, saying the visit was really useful for “filling in the blanks”. Anne told medical crews at Southmead Hospital in Bristol who were involved in looking after her following the incident in June 2024: “Sadly, I don’t have huge memories of being in here either. “I just know I was really well looked after so thank you.”.
The 74-year-old princess, who was on her way to see her chickens on her Gatcombe Park estate when the incident happened, has no memory of what followed, but is thought to have been struck by a horse’s head or legs. An air ambulance and emergency services were dispatched to Anne’s Gloucestershire home and, following medical care by the crew, the princess was taken by road 30 miles to Southmead. It had not previously been known that Anne, who drove herself to the engagement on Thursday, had been treated in intensive care.
Anne, in a short speech, told staff who cared for her: “You’ve been filling in the blanks, which partly, from my perspective, is really useful to know what happened because I seriously don’t have any idea and, sadly, I don’t have huge memories of being in here either. I just know I was really well looked after so thank you. “But whatever you did, it seemed to work… the recovery being relatively straightforward, thankfully. That isn’t always true so I’m really grateful.
“I’m also grateful in a weird sort of way that I remember nothing because that has huge advantages – you can just carry on. Anne appeared to joke about her horses and which one was responsible for her injuries, saying: “I know if there was a perpetrator who managed to do that much damage, they’re not letting on either, so relationships remain absolutely secure. “No one has gone absent as a result of this.”.
The King’s sister spent five nights in the facility after her accident on June 23 and did not return to public royal duties until almost three weeks later after rehabilitation support at home. At the time, Buckingham Palace said the princess “remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation”. Anne has described how “every day is a bonus” after she suffered concussion and minor head injuries.
