Kate and William's message to Anne gives rare insight into the Royal Family's support network

Kate and William, both 42, wrote on social media: "Super trooper! So great to see you back so soon! W & C x".

The prince and princess were reacting to photographs of Anne during her first engagement since being released from Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where she was treated for minor head injuries.

However, a source told The Daily Mail that Princess Anne was "unaware" of the social media post before it was shared online.

Speaking on this week's episode of The Royal Record podcast, Cameron Walker said: "What we've also seen over the last few weeks is the Princess Royal starting to come back to public engagements in a gradual way following her incident with a horse.

"We don't know exactly what happened, but medics are guessing that she was either kicked or headbutted by a horse, that's what they said, something along those lines.

"We know she had a concussion and minor injuries, but we saw her back out and about and William and Catherine called her a trooper as well."

Svar Nanan-Sen, GB News's Digital Royal Editor, added: "Princess Anne returned almost like it was business as usual like nothing had happened.

"And I think that's the way she should have wanted it to be, just keeping calm and carrying on.

"She would have wanted as little fuss as possible about it."

Regarding the message from the Waleses that caught Princess Anne off-guard, Svar added: "It was a lovely gesture from William and Kate, but I think it also summed up Anne that she'd want as little fuss as possible around the return and just wanted to get on with it."

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Cameron responded: "But doesn't that just show you the lovely relationship that Prince William and Catherine have with Prince William's aunt, Princess Anne, and just how members of the working Royal Family, although quite slimmed down now, are really rallying around each other and supporting each other.

"When Anne was out of action, as well as the Princess of Wales, and the King because of various health matters, we did see members of the Royal Family rallying around each other.

"Prince William hosted the garden party at Buckingham Palace in the pouring rain, it seems to be happening all summer here in London with all the rain.

"He had the younger generations of the royals in an informal capacity helping out, including Princess Beatrice and Eugenie."