ROYAL-WATCHERS braved high winds and freezing temperatures to catch a glimpse of Princess Anne as she made a visit to Harwich this week.

The Princess Royal was shown around Trinity House in Harwich Quay on Tuesday afternoon, March 12 - a stones throw from where she had her first public kiss with her now ex-husband Mark Phillips in 1973.

She landed by helicopter at Great Oakley Airfield then was driven to Trinity House to see the headquarters in her role as master of the maritime organisation.

Penny McCormick-Byrne, 66, of Albert Street, Harwich, said: “Princess Anne is one of my favourite royals. She’s very active - she takes part in so many different charities and organisations. I have never seen her in the flesh. It’s nice to get a view of her.”

Roy and Christine Thompson, of Partridge Close, Great Oakley, said they had seen most of the royal family visit the area.

Christine, 68, said: “We have seen the Queen when she came to Harwich and Princess Diana when she was in Frinton in 1988. We have been to Sandringham too.”

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