‘Deep regret’: Princess Anne breaks silence after head injury

Princess Anne made her first public comments after a suspected kick from a horse left the royal hospitalised with a head injury, leaving the 73-year-old royal ‘deeply saddened’.

Princess Anne made her first public comments after being hospitalised with a head injury to express “deep regret” and missing official royal duties.

After concerns the suspected kick from a horse would impact her official schedule, the 73-year-old Princess Royal confirmed the cancellation of a major tour of Canada in commemoration of the First World War.

“It is with deep regret that I am unable to be with you today, as you commemorate the brave efforts and sacrifices of the members of the Newfoundland Regiment who went into battle on the first day of the Somme,” she said in a written statement.

The missive, read out by the Canadian Governor General, was Princess Anne’s first official comment on her schedule since she was discharged from the hospital last week.

Princess Anne rode during the Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade shortly before the injury. Picture: Getty Images

“I have fond memories of joining you in 2016, on the 99th occasion that the people of this Island commemorated the Battle of Beaumont Hamel, and I am deeply saddened that I’m unable to join you again, and I send you my warmest best wishes on this special day of commemoration,” Princess Anne added.

She spent five nights under observation for a concussion and other minor injuries that were consistent with being kicked or headbutted by a horse.

Her return to duties as an official member of the royal family remains unknown, with the palace reviewing potential engagements on a case-by-case basis.

Princess Anne’s husband, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, raced to her hospital bedside where she was being treated for a concussion. Picture: AFP

Her withdrawal from a full schedule puts further strain on a royal family already reeling from the impact of illness on King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales.

Princess Anne had stepped up to fill the holes left in the slimmed-down inner circle, and her injury widened those gaps until the potential return of Princess Catherine in the summer.

She has stepped in to represent King Charles while he postponed public engagements during his cancer treatment, and rode at his official birthday parade this month.

But the accident forced her to withdraw from an appearance at a state banquet for visiting Japanese Emperor Naruhito, and cancel an upcoming trip to Canada.