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Anne braves weather to meet West Sussex volunteers

Craig Searle Princess Anne with brown hair is facing the camera and smiling while looking off to the right. She is wearing a dark blue coat. Three elderly men wearing white uniform shirts are facing hairCraig Searle
The Princess Royal met National Coastwatch Institution watchkeepers in Shoreham

The Princess Royal has been meeting coastguard volunteers and touring the Rolls-Royce factory during a visit to West Sussex.

Princess Anne arrived at Shoreham's National Coastwatch Initiative (NCI) station on Thursday morning where she presented three volunteers with awards for long service.

By the afternoon, the princess had left the rainy coast and was making her way to Goodwood, where she toured the Rolls-Royce factory to celebrate its 120th anniversary.

The last stop of the day was at Amberley Museum, in the heart of the South Downs, where the princess was presented with a walking stick handmade by a museum craftsperson.

George Carden/BBC A young boy with brown hair waving a Union Flag next to a woman with long brown hair wearing a blue coat and pink jumper with black hat. They are standing on grass above the sea. In the background are various brown buildingsGeorge Carden/BBC
Isabel Mary and her son Henry, 2, saw the princess on the Sussex coast

Isabel Mary and her son Henry, 2, braved the conditions to cheer for the princess as she arrived at Shoreham.

"We live in a lovely place and it's great that Princess Anne has been able to come down," she said.

"Henry is a particular fan of the NCI volunteers and it's great that they've been recognised."

George Carden/BBC An elderly man with short white hair is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a white shirt with black lapels on the shoulder, and a black tieGeorge Carden/BBC
George Grundy chatted with the princess about his life growing up in Banbury before moving to Sussex

Among the volunteers to meet the princess was George Grundy, who has been with the NCI since 2011.

"I really enjoyed it, she's a very hard working royal," said Mr Grundy.

The princess then visited the Rolls-Royce factory at Goodwood, near Chichester, before flying by helicopter to Amberley Museum, near Arundel.

George Carden/BBC An elderly man with white hair, smiling as he looks at the camera. He is wearing a white shirt with brown knitted jumper and dark blue blazer. He is stood in front of a blurred brown fence with green hedges and trees in the backgroundGeorge Carden/BBC
Peter Trinder spoke to the princess about his volunteering at the Amberley Museum

Peter Trinder, a volunteer at the museum since 2003, told BBC Radio Sussex: "It was an absolute delight [to meet Princess Anne]. She's the greatest asset we've got.

"I spoke with her about volunteering here and pointed out the tunnel which appeared in the James Bond film A View To a Kill."

The princess then officially opened the newly restored bagging shed and loading bay - a late-19th Century building which was once the heart of the busy Amberley chalk pit and limeworks.

George Carden/BBC Princess Anne wearing a long, dark blue coat and red scarf. She is holding walking stick in her right hand and is surrounded by half a dozen people. They are on a driveway with green grass and a tree behind them. there is a red post box built into a brick wall to the left. The sky is greyGeorge Carden/BBC
The princess was pleased to receive her handcrafted walking stick

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