The Princess Royal visits the Isle of Wight

At the Mountbatten Hospice, Her Royal Highness helped the charity celebrate their 45th anniversary. 

The charity has been providing end-of-life care for people on the Isle of Wight since 1977, with a dedicated hospice opening in 1982. 

Her Royal Highness, in her role as Patron, then officially opened the United Kingdom Sailing Academy’s (UKSA) new accommodation facility in Cowes.

The new 136-bed accommodation centre will enable the charity to welcome an additional 3,000 young people each year to continue growing its impact on life skills and career prospects.

Following a tour of the new facility, The Princess also met children from Tile Cross School in Birmingham and Downside Fisher Youth Group from London who were on the Sea.Change Foundation programme, an inspirational 5-day residential programme, running through the school holidays, for teenagers across the UK to learn about training and careers in the maritime sector.

UKSA is a national maritime charity, based on the Isle of Wight, who work to widen access to maritime training and to enhance life skills and employment in the sector.