In the wake of the tragic incident that shadowed Liverpool FC’s Premier League title celebrations, Princess Anne visited the Royal Liverpool University Hospital to thank emergency responders and medical staff for their swift and coordinated response.
The visit followed an event on Monday, when a car drove into crowds gathered along Water Street during the club’s victory parade, injuring 47 people.
During her visit on Tuesday morning, The Princess met with nurses, consultants, paramedics, and representatives from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, as well as officials from Liverpool FC. She heard first-hand accounts of the emergency response efforts and expressed her deep gratitude for the professionalism and courage shown by all involved.
Medical personnel described the situation as “very, very fortunate,” given the potential for far worse outcomes. Marc Lucky, Divisional Medical Director for Surgery at Aintree University Hospital, said that while the incident prompted an emergency alert for staff to report in, the injuries sustained were not “major traumas.” He added, “We had too many people, which is a very interesting complaint to have. We were very, very fortunate yesterday, I must say.”
Consultant Jay Rathore adding, “most of the injuries were limb injuries. No life-threatening, we were able to manage them.”
Specialist paramedic Susan McCormick, one of the first responders at the scene, recounted that she and a colleague were already treating a man for an unrelated issue when the car struck the crowd. Advanced paramedic Gary Fitzpatrick highlighted the value of prior preparation: “We actually had a plan before the event so we were quite prepared for the situation.” Nurses told The Princess that the major incident planning protocols they had in place “kicked in” seamlessly, allowing them to manage the emergency effectively.
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The Princess Royal, who is Patron of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, made her visit to the hospital before continuing on to her previously scheduled engagement aboard the Queen Anne, a Cunard ship docked in Liverpool to mark the shipping line’s 185th anniversary.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace released a statement following the visit, saying: “Further to her visit to Liverpool this morning, The Princess Royal would like to share her heartfelt condolences and support for the families and communities affected by Monday’s tragedy.
“Her Royal Highness also wishes to acknowledge the courage of the emergency services, some of whom she met today, and all those providing care and comfort during this difficult time.”
Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson also expressed his gratitude for the royal visit, stating, “We really appreciate you still coming, because it will mean a lot to the people of the city.”
The visit came just hours before The King and The Prince and Princess of Wales released their own statements. You can read their messages in full here.
