Princess Anne, considered King Charles' secret weapon, is in the hospital after suffering a head injury
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- Princess Anne is being treated for a head injury at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, England.
- She sustained a concussion from an incident at Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.
- The palace said King Charles III had been informed about his sister's condition and recovery.
Princess Anne is receiving treatment in a hospital for a head injury, Buckingham Palace said on Monday.
The king's sister, 73, "sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident" at her home in Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, England, the palace said.
"Her Royal Highness remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery," the statement added.
It said King Charles III had been "closely informed" about the incident.
A source close to the family told Business Insider that Anne's injuries may have been caused by a horse, as her injuries were consistent with the impact caused by a horse's legs or head.
The palace said in a follow-up statement that Anne's royal engagements for the week would be postponed. A source said the princess' scheduled trip to Canada at the end of the week would be rescheduled.
The princess has consistently been viewed as the hardest-working member of the royal family and Charles' "secret weapon." The Guardian found that she carried out more than 11,000 royal engagements from 2002 to 2022, more than any other royal at the time.
She continued her winning streak in 2023, carrying out 457 engagements, the most of any royal that year, according to The Telegraph.
Anne's work ethic has benefited the monarchy after the loss of some of its key players. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back in 2020, and this year Kate Middleton and Charles stepped back to receive treatment for cancer.
Their absences exposed cracks in the king's slimmed-down monarchy.
In an interview with CBC News in 2023, Anne said a slimmed-down monarchy didn't "sound like a good idea" considering there were fewer royals around to carry out engagements.