Royal Visitor Backs Seafarers' Mission

Princess Anne has now undertaken three engagements as part of her trip to NI today.

Just hours after her brother, Prince Andrew flew into NI for a series of engagements yesterday, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has been the guest of honour at a reception hosted by the Mission to Seafarers at Belfast Harbour Office.

Earlier, she visited The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST) at its new site near Templepatrick.

The charity was founded by Dr Elisabeth Svendsen and can trace its roots to its first purpose-built riding centre for children with special needs and disabilities built in Sidmouth in 1978.

Her Royal Highness was greeted by Joan Christie, Lord-Lieutenant of Co Antrim and went on to meet John Akers, Chief Executive EST and Tina Symington, Manager EST Belfast.

At a reception in honour of the visit, Princess Anne had the opportunity to meet around 70 guests representing EST, veterinary support services, local sponsors and supporters.

Accompanied by Ms Symington, the royal visitor joined other guests in the centre's indoor riding area and watched a riding display by children and their helpers and also had an opportunity to meet them after the display.

HRH also accepted an invitation to present the children with rosettes.

Following a few words of welcome, John Akers went on to invite The Princess Royal to unveil a plaque to commemorate the official opening of the Centre with the guest accepting a posy from eight-year-old Emily Payne from Portglenone and to meet other staff outside in the Donkey Barn who had gathered to bid farewell.

STEM

She then visited the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Module mobile laboratory and workshop at the North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB) Centre in Antrim.

STEM is a major government initiative throughout the UK and the STEM Module in NEELB is a mobile laboratory and workshop designed to bring high quality learning experiences in STEM subjects to pupils in Northern Ireland.

The resource is managed by the North Eastern Education and Library Board. The module consists of a large articulated truck and trailer with expandable pods which provide a science laboratory/technology workshop.

Throughout the engagement HRH was accompanied by Ray Gilbert, Senior Education Officer, NEELB.

Most recently, as worldwide President of The Mission to Seafarers she was the guest of honour at a reception hosted by the Mission at Belfast Harbour Office.

On arrival the royal visitor was greeted by Jim McDonald, Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast, and went on to meet Robert Ferris Chairman, Mission to Seafarers (Northern Ireland) who accompanied HRH during the visit.

Established in Belfast in 1860, the Mission to Seafarers now welcomes thousands of seafarers each year.

The Princess Royal has a long association with the organisation which numbers her father, the Duke of Edinburgh, among its previous Presidents.

The princess launched an appeal in 1987 to help defray the costs of the new Belfast Centre, raising £107,000.

She also opened the new centre in 1988 and returned in May 1992 to open the Hurst Extension. The centre provides a satellite computer telephone system, a bespoke international telephone card, internet and E-Mail facilities and a 'next-to-new' clothes shop.

See: Prince Andrew Meets Injured RIR Soldiers

(BMcC)