A NEW information and advice centre in a Hampshire town has received the royal seal of approval.
The Princess Royal, 71, officially opened the Citizens Advice New Forest (CANF) building at Old Milton Road, New Milton, after arriving by helicopter.
The facility has been provided in partnership with New Forest Mencap, which hosted a reception for the princess at the Nedderman Centre in Marryat Road.
The princess, patron of the national Citizens Advice organisation since 1990, met staff and volunteers.
They included Kickstart trainee Dan Higgins, who is learning how to become a telephone assessor for the charity. Dan told her: "I've enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and have learned new skills. The Kickstart role has been amazing."
The princess was also introduced to Ken Hardy, CANF’s oldest volunteer, who has just celebrated his 90th birthday.
After unveiling a plaque, the royal visitor travelled to the Nedderman complex, where she was met by Sandy Negrescu, advice services manager from Citizens Advice.
Sandy introduced her to volunteers and staff from Fareshare and New Forest Basics Bank who are partners with Citizens Advice in the area's food larder project.
Claire Martin, from Fareshare, said: "It's been great to work our partners at the food larder. Citizens Advice and the New Forest foodbanks all support the larders and together we have helped hundreds of people across the New Forest reduce their food shopping bills."
Mike Snell, chairman of New Forest Mencap, invited the princess to meet staff, trustees and service users from the charity.
She concluded her 90-minute visit by attending a reception hosted by the basics bank. She met a wide range of people including advisers, digital champions, and members of the town council. The royal visitor was presented with a posy by Mencap volunteer Danielle Belk.
- READ MORE: Do you remember when Princess Royal visited Southampton and Lyndhurst?
The princess is no stranger to the New Forest. She has carried out official engagements at locations across the district, including Marchwood Military Port, as well as paying several visits to the Royal Lymington Yacht Club.
In 2000 she visited the New Forest and Hampshire County Show at New Park, Brockenhurst, after becoming the event's millennium year president.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here