Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal enjoyed a visit to the Isle of Wight yesterday (Tuesday) to not only officially open UKSA’s new 136-bed accommodation centre, but to unveil a special plaque at Mountbatten Hospice and to see the work being undertaken at Cheetah Marine.
Princess Anne landed by Royal helicopter at Rew Valley Sports Centre in Upper Ventnor shortly before 11:00 having been flown directly from her country residence, Gatcombe Park, in Gloucestershire. From here she made her way to Cheetah Marine on the Esplanade, where she met staff and explored the work undertaken by the Isle of Wight company.
Her Royal Highness then headed over to Mountbatten in Newport where she met patients, staff, volunteers and visitors during her tour of the hospice. She took time to speak with everyone to learn more about the hospice’s work and she also unveiled a special plaque to commemorate her visit.
Staff presented Princess Anne with a bouquet and a hamper of Isle of Wight produce to say thank you.
As patron of Cowes-based UKSA, Her Royal Highness spent the afternoon taking a tour of the charity’s new facility, unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion and had the opportunity to meet donors whose donations have enabled the accommodation project to come to fruition.
She was greeted by UKSA CEO Ben Willows, Chair of UKSA Trustees Kevin George, and the Island’s Lord-Lieutenant.
The new accommodation centre boasts configurable zones, offering more flexible arrangements for those staying whether they’re a child on a school residential, a student training at UKSA or someone taking part in one of its many water-based programmes.
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 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.”
Princess Anne will next be on the Island on Saturday 6th August.
back for more free hand outs
I didn’t vote for her.
She’s actually the most real and down to earth out of all of the royals. I like her, she’s not fussy and doesn’t think her children should get recognition just by being in that family.
She’s alright by me m, better than that Cumberbatch bloke!
Presented with a hamper of IW produce, or in other words FREE food. Like she’s ever going to go hungry. Millions of hard working tax payers are increasingly having to rely on food banks just to survive and yet here we have another parasite Royal accepting freebies – just sickening!
Such negativity! – She’s one of the most hard working Royals.