Princess Anne kicks off her solo trip to South Africa: Royal arrives at Cape Town riding school on first day of state visit – as husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence stays in the UK after injury

Princess Anne made a visit to a riding school for the disabled on the first day of her state visit to South Africa.

Despite the long flight, the royal, 74, looked fresh in casual attire – a floral blue shirt and white chinos – on Tuesday as she arrived at the equestrian centre to observe a riding lesson as part of her two-day visit to Cape Town.

The royal was forced to embark upon the visit without the company of her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who was unable to travel due to a ligament injury.

Sir Timothy, who has been married to Anne since 1992, is believed to have sustained the injury while working at the Princess Royal’s Gatcombe Park Estate in Gloucestershire.

Nevertheless, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip looked in sprightly mood as she arrived at the Riding School for Disabled Association.

Later in the day, the princess enjoyed a visit to the British High Commission Residence garden in Pretoria in the nation.

Anne dressed suitably for the balmy African climate – Cape Town is currently basking in 28 degrees, wearing subtle makeup with just a touch of red lipstick and a light dusting of powder. 

Princess Anne appeared in high spirits today as she visited the Riding School for Disabled Association in Cape Town on the first day of her state visit to South Africa (pictured)

The royal, 74, looked fresh in a floral blue shirt on Tuesday as she arrived at the equestrian centre to observe a riding lesson, as part of her two-day visit to Cape Town, South Africa

Shielding from the bright sun, the princess donned a stylish set of sunglasses and a sensible pair of brogues for ambling around the centre.   

The trip to the South African Riding for the Disabled Association was the first thing on the agenda for the royal, who is known for her love of horses and has been president of the UK version of the charity for four decades.

Anne was treated to a tour of the riding centre, where she was pictured chatting animatedly with staff.

She stopped to greet numerous members of the association, including Hilary Lane, who is chair and a life member of the charity, and Belinda Sampson, who is the co-founder.

And the horse-loving Olympian couldn’t resist squeezing in a cuddle with a few of the resident horses, who looked lovingly at the royal at she offered them a scratch on the nose.

The charity mirrors the British Riding for the Disabled, which Anne became a patron of in 1971, shortly before becoming its president in 1985.

Both British and South African riding schools focus on using horse riding a form of therapy and life enhancer for children and adults with physical disabilities. 

The two-day stay will be markedly different for Anne, who usually attends usual engagements with her husband by her side.

Anne, who is 17th in line for the throne, has embarked on the visit without the company of her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence , who was unable to travel due to a ligament injury

Nevertheless, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip put on a sprightly display this afternoon as she arrived at the Riding School for Disabled Association

She stopped to greet numerous members of the association including Hilary Lane, who is chair and a life member of the charity, and Belinda Sampson (pictured second right), who is the co-founder

Anne dressed suitably for the sweltering African climate, opting for a breezy floral shirt paired with crisp white chinos and a pair of fashionable sunglasses

The trip to the South African Riding for the Disabled Association was the first thing on the agenda for the royal, who is known for her love of horses and has been president of the UK version of the charity for four decades

Anne dressed suitably for the hot African climate, opting for a breezy floral shirt paired with crisp white chinos

Anne watches on as a lesson takes place in the centre’s indoor riding hall  

And the horse-loving Olympian couldn’t resist squeezing in a cuddle with a few of the resident horses

The princess, who has not visited South Africa since 2012 during Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, has a packed itinerary for the two-day visit 

The charity mirrors the British Riding for the Disabled, which Anne became a patron of in 1971, shortly before becoming it’s president in 1985

The two-day stay will be markedly different for Anne, who usually attends usual engagements with her husband by her side

The former naval officer will reside in the UK where he will be treated for the injury. Meanwhile, Anne made the journey to South Africa solo while flying on a commercial airplane.

The trip to the South African Riding for the Disabled Association was the first thing on the agenda for the royal, who began her state visit on Tuesday.

Later in the day, Anne visited he British High Commission Residence garden in Pretoria, where she met with Bulelani Bashe, who is head horticulturist at Grootbos Foundation, and Leon Kluge, gold winner at the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show. 

The Princess Royal was also pictured pausing to chat with Antony Phillipson, who is British High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa,  along with his wife Julie.

The princess, who has not visited South Africa since 2012 during Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, has a packed itinerary for the two-day visit.

She is expected to attend the British High Commission to view an exhibition by former England cricketer Nick Compton, grandson of celebrated batsman Denis Compton.

The princess will also unveil the Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial as president of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The memorial honours the 1,700 South Africans who tragically died while performing  performing non-combat roles during World War One and have no known grave.

The princess appeared in good spirits as she beamed while chatting to staff at the equestrian centre

During her trip, she is expected to attend the British High Commission to view an exhibition by former England cricketer Nick Compton, grandson of celebrated batsman Denis Compton

Anne was treated to a tour of the riding centre, where she was pictured chatting animatedly with staff

The princess will also unveil the Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial as president of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Hey there! Princess Anne looked delighted to be meeting the school’s horses on the first day of her solo trip

During her trip, she will also make visits to the Royal Cape Yacht Club and the South African Astronomical Observatory

Both British and South African disabled riding schools focus on using horse riding a form of therapy and life enhancer for children and adults with physical disabilities

Elsewhere on her visit, Anne is due to visit the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, which honours the life of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning former archbishop of Cape Town.

She will also make visits to the Royal Cape Yacht Club and the South African Astronomical Observatory.

It comes after the princess was seen sporting a stylish crimson coat last week during a visit to a charity in Cheltenham.

Anne spent the afternoon with the Wings for Warriors charity which trains wounded, injured or sick servicemen and veterans as professional pilots. 

The 74-year-old royal appeared to be wearing the same red jacket she sported while attending last month’s Christmas Day service at Sandringham as she made her appearance.

She added a large gold brooch to the neckline of her coat, which she paired with a midi skirt in a dark colour.

The mother of Zara Tindall, 43, and Peter Phillips, 46, completed her ensemble with black leather gloves, and a small black handbag.

During the visit, the Princess Royal was seen smiling as she spoke with other guests at the event.

At one point, she was presented with wings worn by test pilot Nathan Gray on the first ever landing of an F-35 plane on HMS Queen Elizabeth. 

According to Wings for Warriors: ‘For many soldiers, life outside the forces can appear challenging and uncertain at the best of times. Add a life changing injury to the equation and the future can quickly become a dark and depressing place.

‘Instead of a short term project or challenge, we provide our wounded warriors with the skills they need to achieve an exciting, rewarding and sustainable future for many years to come. 

Later in the day, the princess enjoyed a visit to the British High Commission Residence garden in Pretoria in the nation. She met with with Bulelani Bashe, head horticulturist at Grootbos Foundation (left) and Leon Kluge, gold winner at the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show

The princess warmly shook hands with the floral experts

Anne appeared focused as she strolled for sunlit gardens in Pretoria

While visiting the equestrian centre, the royal stopped to chat with children

The Princess wore subtle makeup for her first day in South Africa 

That’s a bike, not a horse! Anne pictured chatting to some schoolchildren on Tuesday

The princess helped with mounting up a rider, taking time to chat to them 

The royal offers a grin to one of the horses she meets at the Cape Town centre 

‘We rebuild confidence, capabilities and pride and help veterans continue providing for their families well beyond the horizon.’

The charity announced last June that it would be opening a new flight training school in Gloucestershire in late 2024.

Announcing the news, Charity founder and CEO Mark Radcliffe said at the time: ‘What we do isn’t just about flying. 

‘It’s about opening the unique and privileged world we exist in as aviators and using it to inspire inspirational men and women in need of some luck to aim high and keep going.’

Despite having an extremely busy 2024, taking on more royal engagements amid King Charles’s cancer battle, Anne is unlikely to slow down soon, with further engagements coming up.

This is despite suffering her own health woes, after sustaining a head injury last June which the royal has said she ‘can’t remember a single thing’ about.  

Anne took some rare time off after the accident, which doctors believe was consistent with being struck by a horse. 

Despite having an extremely busy 2024, taking on more royal engagements amid King Charles’ cancer battle, Anne is unlikely to slow down soon, with further engagements coming up

The Princess Royal chatted to Antony Phillipson British High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa and his wife Julie, (pictured) during a visit to the British High Commission Residence garden in Pretoria

After the incident, she was taken to hospital on June 23 with minor head wounds and concussion after walking around her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire. 

At the time, Buckingham Palace announced the Princess Royal was being kept in hospital under observation following an incident.

Princess Anne appears to have made a full recovery following the injury.

She was back at work just three weeks later, making her comeback with a visit to the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) National Championships at Hartpury University and Hartpury College in July.

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