Inside £430m hospital with cutting-edge neurology team where Princess Anne is being treated for head injury & concussion
PRINCESS Anne is being treated at a £430million hospital that boasts cutting edge technology after she suffered “minor injuries and concussion”.
Emergency services raced to her Gloucestershire home Gatcombe Park on Sunday evening after the Princess Royal’s health scare.
Princess Anne was rushed to Southmead Hospital in Bristol with a head injury after an “impact with a horse’s head or legs”.
Buckingham Palace confirmed she was taken to the specialist hospital “as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery”.
Southmead Hospital is part of the North Bristol NHS Trust and has a number of major specialities, including neuroscience.
The Institute of Neurosciences is based in the hospital’s Brunel building and is a regional centre providing specialised services for a wide spectrum of neurological conditions.
Southmead Hospital is also home to the only adult major trauma centre (MTC) in the The Severn Major Trauma Network (SMTN).
The centre works alongside six other units based across the South West.
The hospital’s orthopaedic department comprises The Avon Orthopaedic Centre, one of the largest centres of its kind in the region which carries out an estimated 1,000 knee replacements a year.
Elsewhere, North Bristol NHS Trust is a centre of excellence in the South West for plastic and reconstructive surgery, with the service at Southmead Hospital among one of the largest in England.
Its core specialities include burns, skin cancer and breast reconstruction among others.
Anne’s engagements this week have been cancelled and it is understood she will not be able to fly to Canada for a planned tour.
Buckingham Palace said: “Her Royal Highness is receiving appropriate expert care. No further details are being shared at this stage.
“Her Royal Highness will remain in Southmead Hospital unless or until her medical team advise otherwise.
“On doctors’ advice, Her Royal Highness’s engagements for the week ahead will be postponed.
“Her Royal Highness sends her apologies to any who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.
“The Japanese State Visit will go ahead as planned, though sadly Her Royal Highness will be unable to attend the State banquet tomorrow.”
The princess is expected to make a full recovery and to return home later this week.
Who is Princess Anne?
PRINCESS Anne was born on August 15, 1950, at Clarence House in London.
She is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
She is sixteenth in line in succession of the throne and holds the title of Princess Royal.
After finishing her education at Benenden School, she set out on a sports career as an equestrian.
She was the first member of the Royal Family to ever compete in the Olympic Games when she represented Britain in 1976.
This came after she won a gold medal in 1971 and two silver medals in 1975 at the European Eventing Championships.
In the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Princess Anne rode her mother’s horse, Goodwill, during the three-day equestrian event but unfortunately failed to earn herself a medal.
After a successful career, she became part of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) in 1988.
She was previously the president of the International Equestrian Federation from 1987 to 1993 and now serves as the Honorary President of the British Olympic Association.
Most of her charity work has to do with sports, sciences, people with disabilities and health in developing countries.
Princess Anne lives with her husband Sir Timothy Laurence at Gatcombe Park.
The residence is located in Gloucestershire and is also the home to her children Peter and Zara.
Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and son Peter Phillips were on the estate at the time, along with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
King Charles, Queen Camilla, Anne’s brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and her nephew Prince William were notified yesterday evening.
The princess was last seen enjoying Ladies Day at Royal Ascot last Thursday.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Everyone in the country is immensely fond of Her Royal Highness.”
The PM added: “We’re all sending her our best wishes for a swift recovery.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Wishing Her Royal Highness a speedy recovery.
“Sending my best wishes on behalf of all of us at the Labour Party.”
All the events Princess Anne will miss this week
Tuesday
- Thirtieth Commonwealth Agricultural Conference at Gogarburn Conference Centre, Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh.
- State Banquet for the Japanese State Visit
Wednesday
- Thirtieth Commonwealth Agricultural Conference Dinner at The Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston, Newbridge, Edinburgh.
- Opening of Warsash Sailing Club’s Renovated Clubhouse at Shore House, Shore Road, Warsash, Southampton, Hampshire.
- Visit to the Community Sailing Programme on the occasion of its Fortieth Anniversary at Bath Road, Lymington, Hampshire.
Thursday
- Visit to the Hospice at Randolph Hill, Fankerton, Denny, Stirling and Falkirk.
- Thirtieth Commonwealth Agricultural Conference and AGM at Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh.
Friday
- Fiftieth Anniversary Charity Polo Day at Cirencester Park Polo Club, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Saturday-Monday
- Visit to Canada