Princess Anne named new Devon County Show president
The Princess Royal has been announced as the 2025 president of the Devon County Show.The Devon County Agricultural Association said the princess had accepted the role after a longstanding commitment to food, farming and the countryside.The agricultural show showcases farming and country life and runs from 15 to 17 May at the Westpoint Arena near Exeter.Princess Anne, who runs her own farm and estate in Gloucestershire, succeeds celebrity chef Michael Caines who held the role in 2024.
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Press and Journal
3 days ago
- Press and Journal
What has brought Princess Anne and almost 200 Londoners together in Aberdeen?
Trinity Hall has hosted its very first official Royal visit since opening its doors to the public in the 1960s. Despite the downpour, several passers-by stopped to watch the Princess Royal arrive at the imposing building on the corner of Holburn Street and Great Western Road on Friday evening. She was the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen to mark the beginning of a special weekend. As well as Princess Anne, 196 visitors from London were also welcomed to the modern landmark. The London Livery Companies – England's equivalent to the Trades – spend a weekend in a different city every year. And this year, they are discovering all Aberdeen has to offer. The Liveries are all linked to the Lord Mayor of London who happens to have very strong connections with the north-east. Alastair King hails from the Donside area and still splits his time between London and Strathdon. He first suggested the Liveries should travel north to his hometown for their annual trip two years ago. When he asked Deacon Convener Andy Leiper if he thought the Seven Incorporated Trades would be able to host, he responded: 'Of course we can'. 'The role of the Lord Mayor of London is to get investment for cities,' Andy told The Press and Journal. 'He travels the world as an ambassador for London. 'He wants investment into the city of Aberdeen from the capital.' After many months of planning, the London guests' jam-packed weekend started with a special dinner at Trinity Hall. The Lord Provost and the Lord Dean of Guild were among those greeting the 196 Londoners – as well as their Royal guest. Princess Anne, who has been involved with the Liveries for decades, quickly took cover from the rain but did spend some time outside talking to the welcoming party, and performers from Robert Gordon's College Pipe Band. 'This is the first official Royal visit since the building was built in 1966,' Andy, who was head of Aberdeen's bakers guild, said. 'It's quite an event for me as Deacon Convener and for the Lord Mayor – and the city as well.' Princess Anne's visit also celebrates the Seven Incorporated Trades' charity work. The Trades Widows' Fund has donated more than £1.5 million to local causes since 2017. One of their projects was building Aberdeen Riding Club at Nether Anguston Farm in Peterculter. Here, they have installed a riding simulator so disabled people can experience horse riding. Princess Anne, president of the Riding for the Disabled Association, recognised this work when visiting the club in 2023. The guests from London Livery Companies will continue learning more about the north-east over the weekend. An itinerary of events has been organised for the guests, including excursions to Crathes Castle, Fittie and South Harbour. A civic event will be held at Aberdeen Art Gallery on Saturday, with a ceilidh at Ardoe House to follow. The 196-strong group will attend a service at King's College on Sunday morning before some make their way to Balmoral. 'It's a jam-packed weekend,' Andy said. 'It has taken some organisation over the last year and a half. 'The idea is to give them a taste of Aberdeen so they want to come back.'
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Anne hosts charities at forum to mark upcoming 75th birthday
The Princess Royal has brought her charities together at a special Buckingham Palace forum after deciding it was the only way she wished to mark her forthcoming 75th birthday. Anne is not expected to carry out any major public celebrations in recognition of her milestone in August and requested to only use the occasion to focus on the work of her patronages. The princess joked about thanking her brother, the King, for use of the Palace ballroom and praised the work of the organisations. Anne said: 'I'm not here because this was my choice. You very kindly asked me to become patron of your organisations, so it's an honour for me to have all of you here. 'I would just like to make the point that we are very fortunate that His Majesty has allowed us to use Buckingham Palace for this event tonight – and I need say that – it does help.' She said in her speech to the charities: 'The responsibility and respect that you give to your own organisations and the people who work for you and your beneficiaries is perhaps the key to what makes you so important. ' Respect and responsibility. Thank you very much for doing what you do.' A Palace source said: 'This personifies what Her Royal Highness cares about. 'She didn't want to do anything for her birthday but bring her charities together to hear more about their work and how she can help them.' The princess convened the forum and a reception in the Palace on Thursday for some 200 people, drawn from more than 100 of the 300-plus charities and organisations she currently supports. The forum was arranged to discuss key topics such as challenges facing the sector, public trust in charities and the opportunities and risks presented by new technologies. Among the charities were nine organisations of which Anne has become patron of in the last year – at an age when many people have already retired – including Friends of the Elderly and Naval Children's Charity. Colonel John Boyd, private secretary to the Princess, addressing guests at the opening of the event, said: 'There has been a significant amount of interest in Her Royal Highness's 75th birthday celebrations. 'As you are aware, the princess has given decades of time and support to more than 400 charities and patronages. 'It probably won't come as a surprise given HRH's commitment to you all, that the way the princess wanted to celebrate this milestone was to replicate what she's done on previous significant birthdays and hold this charities forum to once again understand how she can help you at a time when the third sector is facing unprecedented challenges and transformations.' Professor Lynne Berry, chairwoman of the Human Tissue Authority and pro chancellor of the University of Westminster, who chaired the discussion, told guests: 'Your Royal Highness, I know you have had many great ideas over the years but this one, this charity forum, is one of the best.' Anne heard about the challenges facing organisations in terms of fundraising and also how charities have been experimenting with AI, with research showing 76% of charities used AI in 2025, up from 61% last year. The princess is a key member of the King's slimmed-down working monarchy and played an important role as she stepped up in support of Charles amid his cancer diagnosis in 2024. Anne is also known for her no-nonsense approach and her commitment to royal duty. She carried out her first public engagement in 1969 aged 18 when she opened an educational and training centre in Shropshire, and a year later began her longest association with a charity, becoming president of Save the Children and later patron.
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Leader Live
Rogue Legend poised to join growing Resolute Racing squad
Paddy Twomey's two-year-old has won twice since narrowly beaten on debut and was impressive in the silks of the Rogues Gallery syndicate – who will be represented by James Owen's Rogue Impact in the Betfred Derby on Saturday – in a hot race at Cork recently. However, Rogue Legend will sport the colours of the American operation at the Royal meeting, pending blood test results which are expected to be confirmed early next week. Stewart said: 'I was impressed with his recent performance on the track and plan to run him in one of the two-year-old sprint races at Royal Ascot. We will enter him in all of them and then pick the race. 'With a Timeform rating of 104 he is one of the top two-year-old sprint horses in Europe and I expect for him to be very competitive.' Stewart has previously stated his ambition to make Resolute Racing a force on the world stage and last year acquired the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Goliath after his victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The American was the source of conversation on X last week when inadvertently suggesting he had struck a deal to purchase Richard Hannon's Queen Anne hope Rosallion. But he instead continues his association with Twomey having previously recruited Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up A Lilac Rolla from the Irish handler, with the four-year-old poised to make her first appearance for Bill Mott in Saturday's Just A Game Stakes at Saratoga.
