Princess Anne suffers concussion and memory loss, leaving daughter distraught
Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess Anne, has long been concerned about her mother’s demanding schedule, a worry amplified by Anne’s recent horse-related injury.
On June 24, Buckingham Palace announced that Princess Anne, 73, had sustained minor injuries and a concussion following an incident at Gatcombe Park in southwest England. Medical reports indicated her head injuries were consistent with a horse-related impact, leading to temporary memory loss.
“For the last several years, Zara Tindall has been worried that the palace has been relying too heavily on her septuagenarian mother,” said Christopher Andersen, author of “The King,” in an interview with Fox News. “Princess Anne is routinely described as the hardest-working royal, racking up 457 engagements last year alone. She has always been fondly thought of as inexhaustible — even invincible. When Zara saw her mother lying in a hospital bed suffering from a severe concussion and memory loss, she was understandably shaken.”
Andersen pointed out the broader challenges faced by the royal family. “With both King Charles and Princess Kate battling cancer at the same time, it’s hard to escape the feeling that the royal family is falling apart physically. Princess Anne’s injury only underscores that perception,” he said. “This means that more and more responsibility will fall on Prince William’s shoulders and Queen Camilla’s. Keep in mind that the queen turns 77 next week, and King Charles is justifiably concerned about the toll all this stress is taking on her health as well.”
Updates to the Royal Diary section of the royal family’s website followed Anne’s injury. “The diary on @RoyalFamily website has been updated to remove Princess Anne’s engagement next week, as she is still recovering from her accident last month,” reported Gert’s Royals. Anne’s next public appearance is scheduled for July 15 and 16, where she will visit the NLV Pharos ship off Scotland’s west coast as Patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board, according to People magazine.
A source told OK! magazine that Anne’s injury had left her daughter “shaken to the core,” adding, “She’s desperately hoping this memory [loss] is temporary.”
Princess Anne was discharged from the hospital on June 28 and is expected to make a full recovery, though details about her return to royal duties remain uncertain. “Princess Anne is quite stalwart and will be resolute in returning to work as soon as she can whilst taking the advice at the same time of her medical team,” royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News. “It certainly has caused issues for the royal family as Anne has a daunting record in the number of events she attends each year.”
Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Anne’s husband, provided an update, saying, “She is recovering well, thank you. 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.”
The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Princess Royal are taking part in the royal procession on horseback.
Princess Anne appears to have her hands full on board a buzzy horse.#TroopingTheColour pic.twitter.com/BkPI0mchml
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) June 15, 2024
Anne’s accident is the latest health scare for the royal family, already dealing with King Charles and Kate Middleton’s cancer treatments. This has strained their ability to maintain public engagements, with Anne and Queen Camilla stepping in to cover more events. As a result of her injuries, Anne had to cancel her appearance at a state dinner in honor of the emperor of Japan.
Despite her injury, Anne remains a celebrated equestrian. She participated in Trooping the Colour on June 15, riding alongside William and Prince Edward. A viral video on X showed her expertly handling her horse when it became jittery during the military parade in London.
