Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence visited the princess for a two hour lunch as she recovers in Southmead Hospital in Bristol, telling reporters he brought a ‘few little treats from home’.
He left the main entrance around 2pm and told reporters ‘She’s doing fine. Slow, but sure.
He added: ‘She is recovering well, thank you. We are both profoundly grateful to the medical team and hospital support staff for their expert care – and to the emergency services who were all so wonderful at the scene.
‘We are both deeply touched by all the kind messages we have received from so many people near and far. It means a great deal.’
The 73-year-old will miss several engagements this week, including the state banquet and an overseas tour to Canada, which was due to start this weekend.
Meanwhile, a Japanese state visit to the UK is well under way, with King Charles and Queen Camilla entertaining Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako days before the UK goes to the polls.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at the state banquet
Noora Mykkanen
The monarch and Queen Camilla posed for a picture with Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako at Buckingham Palace ahead of the glitzy banquet.
Queen Camilla was seen wearing the King’s new Family order for the first time – a diamond-encased miniature portrait of her husband Charles topped with tiny gold and enamel Tudor crown attached on a blue silk ribbon.
The Family Order is worn at formal events by female members of the royal family.
It is personally bestowed by the sovereign, and is a sign of the importance of the wearer within the royal household.
The VIP guest list includes Sir Keir Starmer with his wife Victoria, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Ed Davey along with other government figures.
Sir Keir has been seated next to the King’s chief of staff, Private Secretary Sir Clive Alderton, ITV’s royal editor Chris Ship said on X (formerly Twitter).
The Prime Minister will be sat next to a computer scientist from Southampton University.
Just been in the Buckingham Palace ballroom ahead of tonightâs State Banquet for the Emperor of Japan.
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) June 25, 2024
Notable that @Keir_Starmer has been seated next to the Kingâs chief of staff, Private Secretary Sir Clive Alderton.
Rishi Sunak is seated next to an eminent Computer Scientist⦠pic.twitter.com/Xf7t7MCwxT
In his speech, King Charles marked ‘over four hundred years our nations have inspired each other.’
He said: ‘At the core of our partnership is a close friendship; one based on a mutual understanding of the importance of international rules and global institutions, forged from the lessons of history, including its darkest years. Today, as we face a world in which these principles are ever more challenged, our shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law are more important than ever.’
The monarch also mentioned his first visit to Japan in 1970, when he toured the Japanese World Expo in Osaka before joking about his own bad luck at fishing.
He said: ‘I know from Your Majesty’s fascinating record of your experiences at Oxford – as well as my memories of our time spent together at the opera and fly fishing – that these opportunities to spend time abroad create lifelong friendships and memories.
‘I am only sorry to report that I haven’t had any better luck with more recent attempts at fishing – the Pokémon phrase “gotta catch ‘em all” may resonate with my grandchildren, but for me it is, perhaps, aspirational..!’
Zara Tindall visits Princess Anne in hospital
Noora Mykkanen
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Zara Tindall was seen leaving Southmead Hospital in Bristol to visit her mother Princess Anne.
The 73-year-old senior member of the royal family was taken to the hospital after sustaining ‘minor injuries and concussion’ following an accident on the Gatcombe Park estate on Sunday.
The Olympic equestrian, 43, and her older brother Peter Phillips, 46, were on the estate when Anne was injured, but it is not known who raised the alarm.
Tindall, wearing a denim co-ord and sunglasses, smiled at reporters and declined to comment on her mother’s condition with a wave.
Dubbed the hardest working royal, Princess Anne’s accident raises the question who will pick up her duties while she recovers, and King Charles and Kate Middleton battle with cancer.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said ‘Duke and duch*ess of Edinburgh are a safe pair of hands and popular.’
King and Queen show Emperor and Empress around Royal Collection
Sarah Hooper
In the Buckingham Palace picture gallery after lunch, the King and Queen led the emperor and empress round a specially-arrangedRoyalCollection exhibition demonstrating the close ties between the two countries.
Charles showed the emperor a delicately-painted scroll from 1855 from Queen Victoria’s library showing the 17th-century coronation of Emperor Go-Mizunoo.
The King remarked as they examined the rolled-out section of the artifact that ‘it’s very long. It goes right to the end’ as he pointed down the far end of the picture gallery.
The emperor could be heard saying ‘wonderful, wonderful’ as he examined the objects on show.
The Prince of Wales also entered the gallery with his uncle the Duke of Edinburgh, followed shortly after by the duch*ess of Edinburgh.
William chatted animatedly to Edward and Sophie before inspecting items including photographs of his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 making the first state visit to Japan by a British monarch.
Emperor Naruhito says royals have treated him like family
Sarah Hooper
Japanese Emperor Naruhito has recalled his time spent with the royal family in the early 1980s.
He said: ‘I have very fond memories of the Queen driving a car and inviting me to a barbecue and Prince Philip showing me around by driving a carriage himself. I was welcomed with warmth as if I were their family member.’
Best pictures so far from the Japanese state visit
Jasper King
Watch King Charles greet the Japanese Emperor
Jasper King
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Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence arrives to visit Princess Anne in hospital
Sarah Hooper
Prince William greets the Emperor
Sarah Hooper
Rishi Sunak, David Cameron, James Cleverly among politicians present with King and Queen during Japanese state visit
Sarah Hooper
Tourist suffers nasty fall after being nudged by a King’s Guard horse
Sarah Hooper
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) June 23, 2024Tourist gets headbutted and thrown to the floor after standing next to a Kings Guard horsem*n.
Tourists are warned not to get close to the horses or guards with a nearby sign reading âBeware. Horse may kick or bite. Donât touch the reigns. Thank you.â pic.twitter.com/USdXsOGCHH
Video has emerged of a tourist appearing to be nudged by a King’s Guard horse and falling over in front of Buckingham Palace.
The woman had been posing for photos when she fell face down onto the pavement. Three men rushed to help her.
‘Idiocy’ of slimmed down monarchy is clear after Princess Anne’s accident, royal expert says
Sarah Hooper
One of the monarchy’s hardest working royals is down for the count at the moment, meaning three senior royals are stepping back from their duties.
Princess Anne has been hospitalised for minor injuries after an accident as Charles and Kate are battling cancer.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Metro.co.uk: ‘The idiocy of a slim line monarchy is abundantly clear at the moment, because imagine if there was a slim line monarchy similar to some European countries right now.
‘If one misfortune occurs, then another one and then another one, and you’d have only a few Royals available to carry out engagements.’
Who can pick up the baton?
Prince Andrew is unable to carry out royal engagements for obvious reasons. Prince Harry and Meghan are also out of the question.
What other royals can pick up the slack as Kate and Charles battle cancer and Anne recovers?
Mr Fitzwilliams said: ‘The next hope might be Lady Louise Windsor. But in the future, as she’s at university at the moment.
‘The Duke and duch*ess of Edinburgh are a safe pair of hands and popular, although relatively low profile, and that’s the way they’d like it.’
A rare state visit during an election
Sarah Hooper
The Emperor and Empress’ visit comes at a chaotic time in the UK, after a General Election was called on July 4.
During the entirety of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, no state visits were held during elections. In fact, in 2017, a Spanish state visit was rescheduled after a snap election was called.
All you need to know about the Japanese state visit
Sarah Hooper
The visit of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako is the first state visit Charles will host since his cancer diagnosis.
To begin the days of engagements, the King and Queen will first formally welcome their guests, and Charles will inspect the Guard of Honour – formed of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards with the Band of the Welsh Guards – with theemperorbefore a carriage procession back to the Palace with Camilla and William.
After lunch at the royal residence, the guests will tour a Royal Collection exhibition in the Picture Gallery and then lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.
In the evening,EmperorNaruhito, ruler of the Chrysanthemum throne, and Empress Masako will be feted with a lavish state banquet, where the King and theemperorwill give speeches.
The Japanese visitors will spend seven days in the UK after they arrived at Stansted Airport in Essex on Saturday to carry out private engagements before the official state visit.
On Thursday, they will bid farewell to the King and Queen and privately visit St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle to lay a wreath on the tomb of the late Queen, before having a private visit to Oxford on Friday.
The key event in the royal calendar is Charles’s first incoming state visit since his cancer diagnosis.
The Princess of Wales, who returned briefly to the spotlight at Trooping the Colour last weekend despite her ongoing cancer treatment, is not expected to take part in the visit.
The Japanese state visit previously had to be postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s odd affection for the River Thames explained
Sarah Hooper
Japanese Emperor Naruhito will have a busy schedule while visiting London, but one tour in particular has piqued the interest of those following his visit.
The Emperor will visit the Thames Barrier – retractable flood control gates of the River Thames.
Four decades ago, Naruhito studied 18th century commerce on the River Thames while studying at Oxford.
He even wrote a memoir called ‘The Thames and I’. In his book, he wrote: ‘It would be impossible in Japan to go to a place where hardly anyone would know who I was.
‘It is really important and precious to have the opportunity to be able to go privately at one’s own pace where one wants.’
Japanese state visit hoped to forge ‘friendly relationships across generations’
Sarah Hooper
A Japanese Foreign Ministry official said the emperor and empress’s visit would not be a political one and it was hoped it would forge ‘friendly relations across generations’ between Japan’s imperial family and the Britishroyalfamily.
A dinner in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace will see Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer dress in white tie, process in and take their seats around the horseshoe-shaped table to hear speeches and toasts by King Charles and the emperor.
A prime minister usually sits near the head of the table, with the leader of the opposition positioned further down.
State visits are planned by the Foreign Office, in consultation with the Palace.
