Princess Anne, 73, Was Once Told, ‘You Don’t Look like a Princess’ — How Did She Respond?

A few years ago, Princess Anne was caught off guard by a little girl’s candid comment, yet her reaction was anything but typical. She delivered a witty and memorable comeback.

During an episode of the podcast, “The Royals with Roya and Kate,” one of the hosts recounted the incident that occurred during an event for young riders and children in association with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), a charity Princess Anne passionately supports.

The host recalled the charming encounter, as relayed to her by a senior member of the RDA.

At the event, Princess Anne was mingling with various children, each with different disabilities, when one particular girl was introduced to her. The girl innocently remarked, “You don’t look like a princess.” The princess’s response was brilliantly disarming.

A brilliantly disarming, “Thank goodness for that, I’m so pleased to hear that,” Princess Anne replied, eliciting laughter from those who heard.

This anecdote surfaced shortly after Princess Anne resumed her royal duties following a hospitalization. The princess, an avid equestrian, had suffered a concussion following a horse-related accident at her home.

As Princess Anne recovers, she has shared more about her condition. At a recent RDA event in Gloucestershire, the princess candidly admitted she couldn’t remember anything about the incident that occurred on June 23.

Addressing her presence at the event, RDA UK chair Ms. Vega Lozano expressed that it was a huge honor for the princess to attend the RDA as her first event since the accident. Michael Bishop, Chief Executive of the RDA, added that Anne holds a very special place in their hearts and expressed gratitude for her unwavering support.

While Princess Anne’s first public appearance after leaving the hospital excited many, it also caused quite a commotion online. Eagle-eyed social media users expressed concerns over the visible injury on the princess’ face after her accident.

Princess Anne sported a classic ensemble that was perfect for the RDA event’s occasion. She wore an olive green two-piece tweed suit and paired her look with navy wool gloves, a matching hat, a colorful silk scarf, and black, heeled boots. The princess also carried a dark blue bag.

Several pictures showed the British senior royal making her way through the event, greeting and conversing with fellow attendees. The official Instagram account of the royal family shared a carousel of images spotlighting her endeavors at the event.

“At the Championships, the biggest equestrian event of its kind for disabled competitors, The Princess presented awards and met some of this year’s winners. 🎉 This year marks the 55th anniversary of the RDA!” penned the account in their caption.

While Princess Anne certainly looked lively in the photos that were posted online, upon a closer review of some, one can easily notice the dark bruise underneath her left eye, on her left cheek.

The bruise came from the head injury she suffered a few weeks ago, which led to a five-night stay in Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Reports stated that the exact circumstances of the accident remained unclear. However, what was known was that the princess sustained a minor head injury and concussion while taking a stroll on her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.

She was said to have been kicked by a horse and suffered temporary memory loss as a result. People who had seen the new photos of Princess Anne at the equestrian event expressed worry for her.

Users immediately noticed the bruise on her face, with one writing, “Princess Anne returned to work & still had faint bruising on her face,” alongside two side-by-side pictures of the royal. In response, another pointed out, “That’s more than faint!”

However, amid the concern, some people were simply happy to see the princess back at work again and thought she looked well. “Thank God she’s healing and looking fabulous, I will add. ❤️,” praised a fan. Another gushed, “❤️ pleasure to see.”

More details shared included the fact that the event was cut from two hours to one to account for Princess Anne’s ongoing recovery. Additionally, the princess showed strength and endurance by opting to stand in many instances as opposed to taking a seat on one of the many chairs there.

As a long-time associate of the RDA, having become the organization’s first patron in November 1971 and president in 1986, Princess Anne was always scheduled to attend the event.

An attendee named Avril Nicholl, who accepted one of the awards on behalf of an autistic rider, shared how she, along with other people, were given instructions not to ask Princess Anne about her injury. However, Avril mentioned, “I couldn’t let it go by without saying, ‘I’m so happy you could come.’ She said, ‘It is so kind of you to say that.’”

Reportedly, Princess Anne was discharged from Southmead Hospital early Friday morning, on June 28, where she exited without being seen. It was also confirmed that she returned to her peaceful country home at Gatcombe Park near Minchinhampton.

Even as Princess Anne recovers, her deep love for horses and dedication to charity can’t go unnoticed. Some even wonder if this could have been her calling in another life. In a past interview, when asked what profession she would choose in another life, Anne admitted she had no idea.

She then remarked that it was a bit too late to worry about such things. Reflecting on her life, she noted the advantage of having experienced a broad spectrum of interests and not being tied to a specific field, which she sees as a fortunate aspect of her life.