Sark lighthouse picture perfect for a princess
PRINCESS Anne met officials and parishioners in Torteval and went to Sark to view a modernised Point Robert lighthouse – where she snapped her own photograph – during a visit to the islands yesterday.
The Princess Royal, the Queen’s only daughter and now 13th in line to the throne, was on her ninth trip to the Bailiwick, the last being in 2011.
As Torteval Church celebrates its bicentenary this year, Her Royal Highness visited the newly-restored tower and spire before planting a commemorative tree in the grounds and unveiling a plaque.
It was a great honour and proud day for the parish, rector’s warden Sue Brooks said.
‘Torteval is small but there’s a great community spirit. I think we put on a good show,’ she said.
Members of the Riding for Disabled group met Princess Anne in the Glebe Field among a number of other displays.
She was then presented to the Guernsey Royal Logistic Corps, of which she is the Colonel-in-Chief.
The Queen’s Cup for the Royal Guernsey Agricultural and Horticultural Society was also presented by the princess during the visit to Shane Robert for his winning cow, Bigard Claudia.
There were also displays from the Guernsey Military History Company and Peter Girard, owner of Golden Guernsey Goats.
Princess Anne then flew over Les Hanois lighthouse on her way to Sark, where she was greeted by Seigneur Christopher Beaumont and his family.
She is Master of Trinity House, which was founded in 1514 by Royal Charter and now maintains more than 60 lighthouses around England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar.
She toured the modernised 105-year-old lighthouse and met charity representatives.
Recently retired lighthouse attendant Trevor Kendall described the Princess Royal as ‘charming’ with a great sense of humour.
Full reports and pictures in tomorrow's Guernsey Press
