York welcomed a royal visitor today (Thursday, 19 May).
Three weeks after the city stripped Prince Andrew of his Freedom of the City, Princess Anne was in town as an Army regiment exercised their Freedom of York.
The Princess Royal took the salute as 2 Signal Regiment paraded along Duncombe Place.
The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Chris Cullwick was alongside her, and made a speech about the regiment’s long association with the city. It was awarded the Freedom of the City after soldiers did so much to help during the floods of November 2000.
Other VIPs present were the Lord-Lieutenant Of North Yorkshire Jo Ropner, the General Commander of 1 (UK) Division Major General Charles Collins and both the Chief Constable and Chief Fire Officer of North Yorkshire.
A good crowd lined both sides of Duncombe Place to watch the spectacle. The National Anthem was played, the princess took the salute, then inspected the troops. The regiment then went on to parade through York.
Princess Anne also made a private visit to York Minster. She met members of the Chapter of York, 2 Signal Regiment, representatives from the Kohima Educational Trust and members of 37 Signal Regiment.
Leo Davidson, 11, the son of Staff Sergeant Julius Davidson, Royal Corps of Signals, presented her with a posy.
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Princess Anne also met stone mason Richard Bossons, the designer and carver of York Minster’s new statue of the Queen.
She viewed progress on the statue which is due to be installed in an empty niche at the West Front of the cathedral in the autumn.
The Princess arrived by helicopter at Bootham School. There she was met by the head, Helen Todd, with pupils who presented her with a posy.
