Princess Anne, King Charles III’s sister, was hospitalized on Monday with “minor injuries and concussion” after being reportedly wounded by a horse.
The incident occurred late Sunday at Anne’s country house, Gatcombe Park, in southwest England, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.
It is the latest health concern to affect the British royal family this year, following cancer diagnoses for both Charles and his daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales.
“Her Royal Highness remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery,” according to a statement.
“The king has been kept closely informed and joins the whole royal family in sending his fondest love and well-wishes to the princess for a speedy recovery.”
The 73-year-old queen, a skilled horsewoman who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, will remain in the hospital “unless or until her medical team advise otherwise”.
The palace did not reveal details of the event but sources in the princess’s medical team claimed her head injuries were consistent with an impact from a horse’s head or legs.
Anne’s husband, Tim Laurence, was at Gatcombe Park when the incident occurred and escorted her to the hospital, according to the palace.
Her daughter Zara Tindall and son Peter Phillips were also there on the estate at the time.
Gatcombe Park’s grounds are well-known for hosting the annual Festival of British Eventing, which attracts the world’s top equestrian stars.
The princess is one of the shrinking number of working royals after her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died in September 2022 and Charles’ younger son, Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, left for the United States two years before.
She has taken on more commitments as Charles and Kate undergo treatment, and she was recently seen attending ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in northern France.
Her agenda for the coming week, however, will be postponed, according to Buckingham Palace, including her scheduled appearance at the emperor and empress of Japan’s official banquet on Tuesday.
She had also planned to visit Canada.
The monarch has made a limited return to public activities and will host the Japanese royals during their state visit on Tuesday.
Catherine briefly returned to public life earlier this month, attending a military parade in London to commemorate the king’s formal birthday, and all eyes will be on Tuesday’s luncheon to see if she goes.