Zara Tindall's 'desperate hope' after Princess Anne injured in horse accident

Zara Tindall has reportedly been "shaken to the core" after Princess Anne was struck by a horse and taken to hospital.

The 73-year-old royal was taken to hospital after being struck by a horse on the Gloucestershire estate last week. Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Anne's husband, has since expressed gratitude to the Southmead Hospital staff for their "exceptional care" and has confirmed that the Princess Royal is "recovering slowly". Despite this reassurance, a source disclosed to Woman's Day magazine that Zara, 43, has long feared such an incident.

"This is exactly what Zara's been worried about happening for years now, but her mum hasn't had a chance to slow down with everyone else falling apart," the insider revealed. "It's really shaken Zara to the core and she's desperately hoping this memory is temporary."

It is believed that Princess Anne will recuperate at home under standard concussion protocols and resume her public engagements once cleared by medical professionals, reports the Express.

The accident occurred shortly before King Charles welcomed The Emperor and Empress of Japan to Buckingham Palace for a state visit.

Royal Editor Roya Nikkhah has since claimed that Princess Anne will "loathe" the attention her ill health has gathered away from her brother King Charles' state visit.

Speaking on The Royals podcast, Nikkhah said: "You can just imagine Anne absolutely loathing being the centre of attention.

"She'll have really disliked the fact that while her brother was hosting a state visit, a very high profile state visit, Anne was the main news of the day, because she loathes being centre of attention."

The Times' Royal Editor Kate Mansey alongside her also suggested that The Princess Royal would have wanted to support King Charles during the state visit, saying: "And she would have wanted to be there to represent the family."

Both went on to agree that Princess Anne's love of horses would not be deterred following her hospitalisation.

"She will definitely, I think, fingers crossed, when she comes out of hospital, I think she will be around horses very soon," Nikkhah added.

The incident is not Princess Anne's first horse-related accident. In 1976 she was knocked unconscious from her horse, Goodwill, at the Montreal Olympics.

Despite this, the trooper Royal finished the event, later saying: "As far as I'm concerned, the lights went out."

She then went on to claim that if she hadn't fought to stay upright, she "wouldn't be here now".

Years later in 2008, Princess Anne was pictured using a walking stick after she was struck by a horse at home.

The Palace remained silent on the incident, yet a senior Royal source disclosed at the time: "I understand she was kicked by a horse while at home at Gatcombe Park at the weekend."

The insider further asserted that "very little" deters the Royal from fulfilling her commitments.