DOZENS of people lined the streets to welcome Princess Anne to Harwich on a milestone anniversary for Trinity House.

The Princess Royal visited the lighthouse authority for England and Wales, based in Harwich Quay, in her role as master of Trinity House, to celebrate its 500th anniversary.

She took on the role from the Duke of Edinburgh in 2011 who had served for 42 years, while previous incumbents include Samuel Pepys and the Duke of Wellington.

Princess Anne arrived at St Nicholas Church for a service at 10.30am on Wednesday where she met dignitaries from Tendring Council and Harwich MP Bernard Jenkin among others.

She waved and said hello to the waiting crowds before entering the church alongside Trinity House staff from across the country for the service which was led by the Rev Peter Mann.

Afterwards she walked along West Street to Trinity House headquarters and opened their new Operational and Planning Centre.

“It went very well and it was a great opportunity to do the service in front of Her Royal Highness and the Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell,” said Mr Mann.

“Trinity House is very important in Harwich and it is an amazing achievement to reach 500 years.

“At the end I had a chat with the Princess and she was very pleasant and nice.”