Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, had been concerned about her mother’s demanding schedule even before the royal was sidelined by a recent horse-related injury.
On June 24, the palace announced that 73-year-old Princess Anne had sustained minor injuries and a concussion following an incident at the Gatcombe Park estate in southwest England.
Her medical team indicated that her head injuries were consistent with an impact from a horse’s head or legs. This incident led to temporary memory loss for Anne.
“For the last several years, Zara Tindall has been worried that the palace has been relying too heavily on her septuagenarian mother,” Christopher Andersen, author of “The King,” told Fox News.
“She has a point,” Andersen added. “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 highlighted the current challenges faced by the royal family, noting: “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.”
“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,” he added.
“Only so many shoes can drop before the institution of the monarchy itself begins to look awfully shaky,” Andersen continued.
Shortly after Anne’s injury, updates were made to The Royal Diary section of the royal family’s website, which tracks official engagements. “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 scheduled outing is set for July 15 and 16, where she is expected to visit the NLV Pharos ship off the west coast of Scotland as Patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board, according to People magazine.
A source previously 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. This has been a huge wake-up call for everyone in the family, and they’re rightfully distressed.”
Princess Anne was discharged from the hospital on June 28 and is expected to make a full recovery, although details about her return to royal duties remain unclear.
“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. It’s just another headache for King Charles trying to create his version of a slimmed-down monarchy, whilst covering all the diary events 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.”
He added, “We are both deeply touched by all the kind messages we have received from so many people near and far. It means a great deal.”
Anne’s accident is the latest health scare for the royal family, which has been dealing with King Charles and Kate Middleton‘s cancer treatments. This has strained the family’s ability to maintain their 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 was seen participating in Trooping the Colour on June 15, riding alongside William and Prince Edward. A viral video on X showcased her expertly handling her horse when it got jittery during the military parade in London.