Princess Anne's horse accident was 'so much worse than anyone let on'

It's been just over a year since Princess Anne was rushed to emergency following a suspected accident involving a horse.

Details of the incident at her Gatcombe Park estate remain unclear as the Princess Royal does not "remember a single thing".

But a source close to the soon-to-be 75-year-old has said the accident was "so much worse" than previously thought.

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Princess Anne was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol by ambulance and spent five nights there before being discharged.

She suffered a concussion and head injuries and doctors believed they were consistent with being struck by a horse.

In a piece published by The Sunday Times ahead of her 75th birthday next month, a source close to Princess Anne provided fresh insight into the accident.

The source, who knows Anne well, told the publication: "Her accident was so much worse than anyone let on and it took quite a while for her to feel herself again".

There were no witnesses and Anne previously said she had no memory of what happened that day.

Speaking in January, the princess said she had been making her "regular visit" to see her chickens on the estate, but added: "I don't have any idea what I was doing in the field, because I never normally went that way".

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"It just reminds you, shows you – you never quite know, something [happens] and you might not recover," she said.

"You're jolly lucky... if you can continue to be more or less compos mentis and last summer I was very close to not being. Take each day as it comes, they say.

"You are sharply reminded that every day is a bonus really."

Last month Anne rode in public for the first time since the accident, taking part in Trooping the Colour on horseback.

On August 15, Princess Anne will mark her 75th birthday but there won't be any grand celebrations.

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The princess has refused all suggestions of new official portraits or media interviews, according to The Times.

However, she has authorised the Royal Mint to produce a silver £5 coin with the inscription: "The Princess Royal. Celebrating 75 years. Duty and devotion."

She also has no plans to retire anytime soon, instead choosing to follow the lead of her late father, the Duke of Edinburgh who worked until he was 96.

When asked about retiring, earlier this year, she said: "It isn't really an option".

The number of working royals has reduced following the departure of Prince Harry and Meghan five years ago.

Princess Anne was last year crowned the hardest-working royal with 474 engagements. Her brother, King Charles – who is battling cancer – came in second.

A source close to Anne told The Times: "She has said her plan is to push on [with work] until she is 80, then start winding down a bit, and then copy the [late] Duke of Edinburgh and wind down completely at 90.

"She would like to do it while she is still in reasonable health."

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