Princess Anne turns on charm for Lichfield park visit
Princess Anne charmed crowds who flocked to a flagship Staffordshire park.
The VIP visitor was at Lichfield's newly restored Beacon Park to rededicate a statue to King Edward VII, her great-great-grandfather.
Lichfield's leisure director, Neil Turner, led the princess through the park, which was bedecked in red, white and blue bunting, and she was welcomed by lines of applauding onlookers.
She met the team that worked on the restoration of the park's original features and representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund.
During the 75-minute tour she also watched bowls being played and was presented with flowers by local Chadsmead Primary Academy pupils, Sophie Turner, aged 10, and eight-year-old Emily Turner.
Lichfield's leisure leader councillor, Val Richards, said: "We were all so proud to welcome the Princess Royal to Beacon Park. She was very complimentary of the park, which looked at its very best."
For weeks, council teams worked hard to make the site fit for a royal visit. Turf was laid, plants were sown, new railings were installed and a yew hedge put in.
