Princess Anne is in hospital today after suffering 'minor injuries and concussion' at her home on the Gatcombe Park estate where it is believed she was kicked by a horse.
Buckingham Palace announced the Princess Royal is being kept in hospital under observation following an incident last night which happened she walked in the grounds. She is expected to make a full recovery.
It means the senior royal will miss several royal engagements this week, including the state banquet for the Japanese State Visit on Tuesday and a visit to Canada.
Follow MailOnline's live coverage below
Princess Anne in hospital: Everything we know so far
The Princess Royal is in hospital after she suffered 'minor injuries and concussion' in an incident at her home on the Gatcombe Park estate on Sunday night.
Here's everything we know so far:
- Buckingham Palace announced the Princess Royal was taken to hospital after she was injured on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening.
- It is understood Anne was walking within the protected perimeter of Gatcombe Park estate when she was kicked by a horse.
- The senior royal was left with minor wounds to the head, and her medical team are understood to believe these are consistent with a potential impact from a horse's head or legs.
- Her daughter Zara Tindall and son Peter Phillips were on the estate at the time, along with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Laurence.
- Anne was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol where she remains under observation and is expected to make a 'full and swift recovery'.
- The King and Queen, and the princess’s siblings the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex, and nephew the Prince of Wales were notified on Sunday evening.
Royal commentator - These injuries appear far from 'minor'
One royal expert has said Princess Anne's overnight stay in hospital could indicate the injuries she suffered at her home on the Gatcombe Park estate are far from a 'minor matter'.
The Princess Royal is understood to be awake but due precise details of the incident are not confirmed at this stage.
Speaking to GB News, Michael Cole said:
Princess Royal's engagements this week
According to the Royal Family website, Princess Anne had a number of engagements this week which will have to be postponed following her injuries.
Here is the 73-year-old's diary for the week:
Tomorrow
• Commonwealth Agricultural Conference - Gogarburn Conference Centre, Edinburgh
• Japanese State Visit state banquet - Buckingham Palace, London
Wednesday
• Warsash Sailing Club's renovated clubhouse opening - Warsash, Hampshire
• Royal Lymington Yacht Club community sailing programme - Lymington, Hampshire
• Commonwealth Agricultural Conference dinner - Royal Highland Showground, Edinburgh
Thursday
• Strathcarron Hospice visit - Denny, Stirling and Falkirk
• Commonwealth Agricultural Conference AGM - Gogarburn Conference Centre, Edinburgh
Friday
• Spinal Injuries Association charity polo day - Cirencester Park Polo Club, Gloucestershire
Sunday until Monday
• Canada visit
Where is Gatcombe Park? The royal estate where Princess Anne sustained her injuries
Nestled between the villages of Minchinhampton and Avening in Gloucestershire, the Princess Royal is surrounded by everything she loves at her country estate.
Gatcombe has been Anne’s since 1976, when it was bought as a wedding present for her and her then-husband Captain Phillips by the Queen. Its previous owner, the former Conservative home secretary Lord Butler, sold it for between £500,000 and £750,000 – equivalent to almost £6million today.
The 18th century manor house comprises five main bedrooms, four secondary bedrooms, four reception rooms, a library, a billiards room and a conservatory, as well as staff accommodation.
To read more click below:
Princess Anne's absence shows how stretched Royal Family is
Rebecca English, The Daily Mail's Royal Editor, reports Princess Anne's hospital stay has again highlighted how stretched the Royal Family is with the King and the Princess of Wales both being treated for cancer.
The Princess Royal is the hardest working royal in terms of annual engagements at a time when the King has cut back on events and Prince William has also taken time off to care for his wife.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have walked away from royal duties completely.
The Japanese State Visit will go ahead as planned, though the Princess will be unable to attend the State banquet tomorrow.
Read more here:
Rishi Sunak - Everyone immensely fond of Her Royal Highness
The Prime Minister has now released a statement following news of Princess Anne's injuries.
Princess Royal was due to fly to Canada this week
One of the engagements the Princess Royal will now postpone is a trip to Canada where she was expected to visit at the end of this week
Canadian media reported Anne was scheduled to take part in a ceremony at a war memorial in Newfoundland.
Earlier this month, the Princess unveiled a statue of a Second World War Canadian Royal Regina Rifleman during the 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations.
Anne has been Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment since 1982.
Keir Starmer sends best wishes to Princess Anne
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has briefly stepped away from the campaign trail to send his best wishes to Princess Anne following news of her injuries.
He said:
Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips on estate at time of incident
Princess Anne's children Zara Tindall and son Peter Phillips were on the estate at the time, along with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Laurence, it has emerged.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said:
The palace spokesperson added: 'Her Royal Highness will remain in Southmead Hospital unless or until her medical team advise otherwise.'
The princess is expected to make a full recovery and to return home later this week.
The King and Queen, and the princess’s siblings the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex, and nephew the Prince of Wales were notified on Sunday evening.
Princess Royal to miss Japanese state banquet
Anne will now miss several engagements this week, including the state banquet for the Japanese State Visit on Tuesday and a visit to Canada.
A Palace spokesman said:
Princess Anne was injured 'by horse'
It is believed Princess Anne suffered the injuries after she was kicked by a horse
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said:
It is understood the princess was walking within the protected perimeter of Gatcombe Park estate when an incident occurred.
She has suffered minor wounds to the head.
The exact cause of the injuries is unconfirmed, but Anne’s medical team have said that her head injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.
Emergency services were despatched to the estate and, the princess received medical care at the scene.
Buckingham Palace statement
Here is the statement from Buckingham Palace:
Good afternoon
Hello and welcome to MailOnline's live coverage as Buckingham Palace announce Princess Anne is in hospital following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate.
We will be bringing you all the latest developments from this breaking news story.
Key Updates
Princess Anne in hospital: Everything we know so far
Princess Royal to miss Japanese state banquet
Princess Anne was injured 'by horse'
Buckingham Palace statement