On Tuesday, The Princess Royal visited the Isle of Wight, where she carried out a number of low-key engagements.
Princess Anne began with a visit to the Cheetah Marine boat building factory in Ventnor. Anne, who shares a passion for sailing with her husband, Sir Tim, learnt more about the company’s three decades of specialist design and construction of power catamarans.
Mountbatten Hospice was next on the agenda, where the Princess helped the charity celebrate their 45th anniversary. Anne toured the hospice facility where she met patients, staff, volunteers and visitors, learning about what they do and the experience of being treated at the hospice.
Princess Anne carried out engagements in the Isle of White, including Mountbatten Hospice. (Mountbatten Hospice)
Anne met staff at the hospice. (Mountbatten Hospice)
The charity has been providing end-of-life care for people on the Isle of Wight – which sits just a few miles off the south coast of England – since 1977, with a dedicated hospice opening in 1982.
Before leaving the hospice, the Princess unveiled a special plaque to commemorate her visit to the centre, marking a special anniversary for them.
Staff presented Anne with a bouquet of flowers as well as a hamper of Isle of Wight produce to say thank you for visiting Mountbatten Hospice.
HRH unveiled a plaque to mark her visit. (Mountbatten Hospice)
The Princess Royal, in her role as Patron, then officially opened the UK Sailing Academy’s new accommodation facility in Cowes.
The Royal saw the new 136-bed accommodation centre, which will enable the charity to welcome an additional 3,000 young people each year to continue growing its impact on life skills and career prospects.
Anne visited UKSA on Tuesday. (UKSA)
HRH toured the new facilities. (UKSA)
HRH spent the time taking a tour of the new facility and had the opportunity to meet donors whose funding have enabled the project to come to life.
No royal visit is complete without a plaque unveiling to mark the visit and the official opening, and this engagement was no different!
Anne also met children from Tile Cross School in Birmingham and Downside Fisher Youth Group from London who were on the Sea.Change Foundation programme, to learn more about sailing and start them on a life-long passion for the sport, which the Princess is also a fan.
Ben Willows, CEO of UKSA, said: ‘We’ve been incredibly proud to show Her Royal Highness our new accommodation centre today and demonstrate what a difference it will make to the number of young people we are able to help.
Her Royal Highness met children from the Sea.Change Foundation programme. (UKSA)
‘Her Royal Highness has been a patron of UKSA since 1992 and during that time we have grown to be the largest RYA training centre in the world, welcoming 11,000 people through the doors of UKSA each year, supporting those young people that wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to access UKSA’s programmes and gain employment.
‘This project has been a huge undertaking, especially given the challenges presented by the global pandemic over the last two years. I am extremely humbled by the incredible support shown by our donors in helping us raise the £4.3m that has enabled this transformational project to become a reality.
‘Her Royal Highness helped UKSA launch this campaign in 2018 and it is fantastic she could visit today and see the new facility and also extend her thanks to UKSA’s amazing set of supporters.’
