Princess Anne has thanked hospital staff for helping her with “filling in the blanks” after her horse-related accident, as it was confirmed she was treated in intensive care.
Anne told medical crews at Southmead Hospital in Bristol who cared for her after the incident last June: “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 is thought to have been struck by a horse’s head or leg on her Gatcombe Park estate while on her way to see her chickens.
An air ambulance and emergency services were dispatched before the princess was driven 30 miles to Southmead.
It had not previously been known that the Princess Royal, who drove herself to the engagement on Thursday, had been treated in intensive care.
Anne, in a short speech, told staff at the hospital: “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 which of her horses 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 hospital after her accident on 23 June.
At the time, Buckingham Palace said the princess “remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation”.
She did not return to public royal duties until almost three weeks later after rehabilitation support at home.
