Princess Anne visits veterans' home in first engagement as Royal Star & Garter patron

The Princess Royal has visited Royal Star & Garter's Surbiton home, meeting residents and staff in her first engagement since becoming the charity's new patron.

During the visit, Her Royal Highness toured the home, spoke with veterans and relatives, and saw recent updates to its dementia-care facilities and activity spaces.

The Princess Royal succeeds her late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who served as patron of Royal Star & Garter from 1953 until 2022, continuing the royal family's long association with the charity.

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She also spent time with residents, including Lady Audrey, the widow of Royal Marines officer Sir John Richards, who later served as Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps at the Royal Household.

Among other veterans she met were Mary Holley, whose late husband served in the Royal Navy during the D-Day landings.

"I was immensely proud to meet Her Royal Highness and talk to her about my life and my husband's service in the Royal Navy," Mrs Holley said. "The princess was very kind and well-informed."

Royal Star & Garter provides care and support for veterans and their families living with disability or dementia.

It operates homes in Surbiton, Solihull, High Wycombe and Worthing, alongside community services such as day care, lunch clubs and a national friendship line.

After meeting residents, the Princess Royal joined them for tea and thanked staff for their dedication to the Armed Forces community.