Anne ‘fills in blanks’ on return to intensive care unit to thank staff for care

The Princess Royal has returned to the intensive care unit where she was treated after her horse-related accident to thank NHS staff, saying the visit was really useful for “filling in the blanks”.

Anne told medical crews at Southmead Hospital in Bristol who were involved in looking after her following the incident in June 2024: “Sadly, I don’t have huge memories of being in here either.

“I just know I was really well looked after so thank you.”

The 74-year-old princess, who was on her way to see her chickens on her Gatcombe Park estate when the incident happened, has no memory of what followed, but is thought to have been struck by a horse’s head or legs.

An air ambulance and emergency services were dispatched to Anne’s Gloucestershire home and, following medical care by the crew, the princess was taken by road 30 miles to Southmead.

It had not previously been known that Anne, who drove herself to the engagement on Thursday, had been treated in intensive care.

Anne, in a short speech, told staff who cared for her: “You’ve been filling in the blanks, which partly, from my perspective, is really useful to know what happened because I seriously don’t have any idea and, sadly, I don’t have huge memories of being in here either. I just know I was really well looked after so thank you.

“But whatever you did, it seemed to work… the recovery being relatively straightforward, thankfully. That isn’t always true so I’m really grateful.

“I’m also grateful in a weird sort of way that I remember nothing because that has huge advantages – you can just carry on.

Anne appeared to joke about her horses and which one was responsible for her injuries, saying: “I know if there was a perpetrator who managed to do that much damage, they’re not letting on either, so relationships remain absolutely secure.

“No one has gone absent as a result of this.”

The King’s sister spent five nights in the facility after her accident on June 23 and did not return to public royal duties until almost three weeks later after rehabilitation support at home.

At the time, Buckingham Palace said the princess “remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation”.

Anne has described how “every day is a bonus” after she suffered concussion and minor head injuries.

On a recent tour to South Africa, the princess remarked of the incident: “It just reminds you, shows you – you never quite know, something (happens) and you might not recover.”

Most of the princess’s visit to the ICU was private.

She walked along the critical care corridor of the unit, meeting staff at different intensive care pods while machines could be heard beeping intermittently.

The princess was introduced to the discharge team who helped with her care including major trauma practitioner Nicholas Crease, occupational therapist Helen Marshall, ICU clinical lead physiotherapist Emma Wickman, and the trust’s medical director Dr Sam Patel.

ICU matron Morwenna Maddock introduced Anne to the team, telling the princess: “There were very heavily involved.”

Dr Patel said to Anne: “We would see each other on and off…. It was very much the team.”

He spoke later about the importance of patients putting together the pieces of their stay in the intensive care unit.

“It’s important for anyone that’s been cared for to close the loop,” he said.

He added: “I think if patients understand the nature of the problem, the nature of their pathway, that’s half of the battle, and I think they can then build on that.”

Ms Maddock said after the visit: “It was really nice for her to come back and see the team… It’s really important for our staff to see that their hard work has paid off.”

Among those who treated the princess was Steven Pullin, a volunteer community responder, who was the first on the scene at Gatcombe Park.

An air ambulance crew was called, along with a second critical care team and an ambulance with paramedics on board who took the princess to hospital.

Emergency care assistant James Teakle drove the ambulance and recalled the journey took 34 minutes.

Mr Teakle said: “I know the area so could work out who it was. It was just another job, but a person of importance. I wouldn’t have done anything different for anyone else.”

Anne also met paramedic Sophie Taylor, who accompanied her to the hospital, and the two-man critical care team who treated her at the scene: doctor Richard Jeavons and specialist paramedic Callum Sutton, who both work for Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.

Maria Kane, joint chief executive of the North Bristol NHS Trust, thanked Anne for her return visit, saying it had given staff a boost.

Ms Kane said: “I know staff who talked to you earlier today have been very very grateful to hear that you’ve made such a lovely recovery and look so well today. We’re absolutely thrilled and delighted to hear that.

“Everyone who has been involved in your care has been wishing you well.”

The ICU at Southmead Hospital is a purpose built 48-bedded unit which admits more 2,000 patients each year, making it one of the busiest in the country.

The hospital is the regional specialist intensive care unit for departments such as major trauma, neurosciences, plastic surgery and burns, and infectious diseases.

North Bristol NHS Trust is one of the largest hospital trusts in the UK with more than 13,000 staff.