Princess Royal to make first Visit to the BVI

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise will visit the BVI from the 23-25 February. H.R.H. will be accompanied by the Hon. Mrs. Louloudis (Maddy) her Lady-in-Waiting, Captain Nick Wright, Royal Navy, her Private Secretary, Inspector Andrew Thomlinson, her Protection Officer, Miss Clare Oliver-Bellasis, her Secretary, and Miss Veronica Cain, her Dresser.

While in the BVI the Princess Royal will unveil a plaque for the dedication of the Peebles Hospital Expansion Project; she will also inaugurate the Mangrove Wetland Preservation Project at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College; and she will tour the Joseph Reynold O’Neal Botanical Gardens.  During her visit there will also be an investiture ceremony for two BV Islanders, and a presentation of certificates from the Royal Yachting Association to some of the BVI sailors at the official opening of the Water Sports Centre.

Representatives of non-governmental and service organizations such as the BVI Red Cross will also meet the Princess Royal. The Royal Visitor is scheduled to tour the Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) headquarters and open the new communications centre at the Department of Disaster Management.

His Excellency the Governor Thomas Macan said that the Princess Royal’s Visit will be an important one for the Territory, and he considers it a great honour to have the privilege to welcome the Queen’s daughter to the BVI. Princess Anne will be the first member of the Royal Family to stay in the new Government House.

The Princess Royal is President of the Royal Yachting Association and Governor Macan said it is therefore appropriate for her to visit the sailing capital of the Caribbean. The Governor encouraged the people of the Territory to extend a warm welcome to The Princess Royal and to make the occasion a memorable one.

The Princess Royal is the second child and only daughter of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. She is married to Commander Timothy Laurence, Royal Navy (now Rear Admiral Laurence). The Royal couple’s first child Peter Mark Andrew Phillips was born on 15 November 1977 and their second child Zara Anne Elizabeth was born on 15 May 1981. The Princess and her family lives at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire. The Princess Royal is associated with over 200 charities and organizations in an official capacity.

The most recent Royal Visit to the Territory was that of His Royal Highness The Duke of York (Prince Andrew) in March 2000.