Princess Anne, marking four decades as the President of the national Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), recently visited the Helen Atkin Group in Buxton. Her visit brought together volunteers and riders, highlighting her unwavering support for the RDA charity. Despite a challenging year, the 74-year-old Princess Royal remains a steadfast advocate for the organization.
Last summer, Princess Anne suffered head injuries and a concussion following a horse-related accident. She was treated in the intensive care unit and has little memory of the incident. On February 6, she returned to Southmead Hospital in Bristol to thank the medical crews who cared for her. During this visit, she expressed appreciation for the RDA's role in her recovery.
"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." – The Princess Royal
The Princess Royal's visit to the RDA was met with public acclaim, with fans praising both her dedication and the charity's impact. She witnessed a riding display set to music from The Greatest Showman and presented rosettes to riders and horses. Additionally, she awarded certificates to volunteers for their long-term service.
"But whatever you did, it seemed to work… the recovery being relatively straightforward, thankfully. That isn't always true so I’m really grateful." – The Princess Royal
Public reactions to Princess Anne's visit were overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed admiration for her choice of charity and the RDA's work. Comments described the event as "beautiful" and "heartwarming," with one fan remarking on social media:
"So beautiful and very heart warming! Thank you for sharing this. So wonderful to see uplifting content like this. The Princess Royal is a gem." – A fan
Princess Anne acknowledged the support she received during her recovery. Despite having no recollection of the accident itself, she found solace in her ability to continue her duties.
"I'm also grateful in a weird sort of way that I remember nothing because that has huge advantages you can just carry on," – The Princess Royal
Fans of the RDA expressed their joy at seeing familiar faces during the visit. The charity's influence extends beyond its immediate beneficiaries, touching lives and communities across the nation.
"This fills me with so much joy. This is an incredible RDA group who played a big part in my son's earlier years. I'm smiling seeing so many familiar human and equine faces." – A fan
