Princess Anne pictured at private Bristol event after mystery royal helicopter spotted
PRINCESS ANNE was pictured at an exclusive awards event in Bristol following sightings of a mysterious guest emerging from the royal helicopter.
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Images of the June 2 event released yesterday, showed the Princess Royal attending the “intimate” event honouring the work of local community members over lockdown. The Gloucestershire Awards in Adversity was held at Lockleaze sports centre but event organisers were tight-lipped about the mysterious VIP guest.
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A spokesperson for Princess Anne was able to confirm the visit, telling Express.co.uk: “I can confirm that The Princess Royal attended a Volunteer Awards Reception at Lockleaze Sports Centre in Bristol.”
The award ceremony, hosted by the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union, honours individuals who have contributed to the wider community or their local rugby organisation during the last year and throughout the pandemic.
In a statement shared with yesterday’s released photos the Union said: “HRH The Princess Royal, patron of GRFU, congratulated rugby winners at this year’s Awards in Adversity event.
“Eleven volunteers from eight GRFU member clubs attended the intimate event at Lockleaze Sports Centre, home of Bristol and District Rugby Football Combination, complying to current covid restrictions, to celebrate their achievements and to receive their awards.”
One example of the community’s extraordinary talents included arranging over 400 school meals to help support young children across Bristol and Somerset.
Another celebrated individual raised £16,000 for Cheltenham and Gloucester NHS charity in memory of his father who died last year after contracting coronavirus.
One of the award winners from the event, Kevin Mulvaney, said it was “an honour” to meet Her Royal Highness.
The photos taken by Steve Lee Photoworks, show Princess Anne smiling and talking to attendees with a drink in hand.
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She wore a yellow suit jacket, a floral dress and carried a small black bag. She also sported some tinted sunglasses and a pearl necklace.
Prior to the event eyewitnesses saw the maroon royal helicopter land in the city sports field next to the venue.
Video shows the chopper hovering before reorienting itself and landing where a woman in a yellow jacket exited the aircraft.
As the footage was taken from a fair distance away, it was not immediately clear who the mystery royal was, although some people suspected it might have been the Princess Royal from the woman’s bouffant hairstyle.
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Over lockdown, it is believed the Princess Royal has been residing in Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire with husband Timothy Lawrence.
The couple share the residence with daughter and son-in-law Zara and Mike Tindall.
The royal chopper, known as the Queen’s Helicopter Flight, is part of the Royal Travel Office at Buckingham Palace and is normally based at RAF Odiham.
