Royal revisits Southmead Hospital after life-threatening brain injuries
Princess Anne has made an emotional return to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where she received critical care following a traumatic accident last year. The 74-year-old royal expressed her gratitude to the medical staff who treated her, acknowledging their role in her recovery.
On 23 June, Anne suffered severe brain injuries after being struck by a horse at her Gloucestershire home while feeding her hens. She was swiftly taken to Southmead Hospital, where she remained under observation for five nights before being discharged on 28 June. At the time, Buckingham Palace described her hospitalisation as a precaution.
During her visit, Anne met the intensive care team and paramedics who treated her, admitting she had little recollection of the incident or her time in the hospital. “You’ve been filling in the blanks, which is really useful,” she told staff. “I seriously don’t have any idea what happened, and I don’t have huge memories of being in here either. But I know I was really well looked after, so thank you.”
Reflecting on her recovery, she added, “Whatever you did, it seemed to work. The recovery has been relatively straightforward, thankfully. That isn’t always true, so I’m really grateful. But in a weird way, I’m also grateful I remember nothing—because that has huge advantages.”
Anne’s husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, had reassured well-wishers after the accident, stating that her recovery was progressing “slow but sure.”
