HER Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited the Scottish Borders yesterday,Thursday September 15, meeting residents and staff of Waverley Care Home, pupils from Galashiels Academy, local carers and veterans.
The Princess Royal is President of the Carers Trust and is known for her work supporting vital care charities and for her many military connections.
After meeting care home residents inside, Her Royal Highness along with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence met a group of senior Galashiels Academy pupils and Headteacher Kevin Ryalls outside, followed by a group of home care and care home staff.
The pair took time to speak to everyone present.
They then met a group of local veterans, led by Councillor John Greenwell, Scottish Borders Council’s Champion for the Armed Forces and Veterans. The veterans included former King’s Own Scottish Borderer Stuart Fleming, former Scots Grays George Mitchell, retired Brigadier Graeme Morrison from the Royal Logistics Corps, former RAF member Russell Kirk, former Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Michael Lowrie and Norrie Tait from the Royal Signals.
Before leaving, the Princess Royal accepted a bunch of flowers from Galashiels woman Anne Ballantyne whose mother Norma (91) is a resident of Waverley Care Home.
Anne who was one of around 100 members of the public there to witness the event said: “My mum is a resident and has always been a big fan of the Royal Family so I decide to come down. I’ve been here for since noon (three hours before the event started).
“And it was wonderful. I’m so thankful that Princess Anne took the time to come which shows that she cares. I handed her the flowers and said ‘here's some flowers from one Anne to another and she laughed.’
“I explained that my mum was a resident and she said that there must be some interesting conversations with that gerenerations and I agreed.
"She also asked whether she was happy there and I told her that she was and had settled in. She seemed genuinely interested.
"Considering everything that going on, for her to come and meet with the residents, I'm sure that was very special for them."
As she was leaving, Princess Anne waved to the cheering crowd from her vehicle.
Afterwards Mr Ryalls said: “We felt really privileged to be honest just to spend a moment with her. It was a real honour to be involved in, especially at this moment and I think this has a big impact on young people.”
More photographs of the event to come
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