Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence sustained a suspected torn ligament injury while working on the Princess’s Gatcombe estate, requires treatment in the UK, leaving Anne to travel solo.
The Princess Royal, 74, will fly commercially to Cape Town, where she will begin her tour with a visit to the South African Riding for the Disabled Association, a cause close to her heart. She will observe riders in action and support their work with disabled individuals.
During her visit, Anne will also unveil the Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial, which honors over 1,700 predominantly Black South Africans who died in World War I between August 3 and 14, 1914, and have no known graves. This unveiling is part of her role as President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, a position she took over from the Duke of Kent in 2023.
Anne’s itinerary includes a visit to the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, which celebrates the legacy of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his anti-apartheid efforts. Additionally, she will visit the Royal Cape Yacht Club and the South African Astronomical Observatory.
This marks Anne’s first visit to South Africa since 2012 when she commemorated Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
Vice Admiral Laurence’s absence follows a history of minor injuries, including one last year reportedly caused by a gardening mishap involving fencing. Days later, he attended the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) at Westminster Abbey with a visible black eye, drawing attention at the event.
