The Princess Royal joins the WI in Cheltenham

Princess Anne attends the Gloucestershire Federation of WI’s Annual Council Meeting

Princess Anne, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, was the special guest at the Gloucestershire Federation of WI’s Annual Council Meeting, held at Cheltenham Town Hall in March.

Around 350 members from the 130 WI branches around Gloucestershire, and visiting guests from other counties, attended the day-long event. The Princess Royal, who drove herself to Cheltenham, is herself an Associate Member of the WI, and was clearly delighted to meet and chat with a selection of Cotswold members during her visit, accompanied by Janice Cole, chairman of the Gloucestershire Federation. She also listened to a talk by Jennifer Wearden, from the Victoria and Albert Museum, on Sustainability and Fashion.

In the afternoon, the speaker was Mary-Jess Leaverland, from Gloucester, who won the Chinese version of X Factor (Min Xing Chang Fan Tian), after competing live on Chinese television every night for three weeks.

Anne, the Princess Royal, enjoys meeting Gloucestershire WI members, at Cheltenham Town Hall. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Anne, the Princess Royal, enjoys meeting WI members, when visits the Gloucestershire Federation of WIs Annual Council Meeting, at Cheltenham Town Hall. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Emma Willis, the renowned shirt maker, looking on as Anne, the Princess Royal, enjoys meeting WI members. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Janice Cole, left, Federation Chairman, accompanies Anne, the Princess Royal, meeting WI members. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Janice Cole, Federation Chairman, accompanies Anne, the Princess Royal, as she spots some WI jams, when visits the Gloucestershire Federation of WIs, at Cheltenham Town Hall. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Anne, the Princess Royal, meeting WI members, Clare Slatter, Shari Cole and Emma Nash, when visits the Gloucestershire Federation of WIs, at Cheltenham Town Hall. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Anne, the Princess Royal, meeting WI members, Clare Slatter, Shari Cole and Emma Nash, when visits the Gloucestershire Federation of WIs, at Cheltenham Town Hall. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Liz Goldie, treasurer of the Gloucestershire Federation of WIs, Janice Cole, chairman, and Lindsay Gow, secretary. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Anne, the Princess Royal, enjoys meeting WI members. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Anne, the Princess Royal, enjoys meeting WI members. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Anne, the Princess Royal, enjoys meeting WI members, at Cheltenham Town Hall. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Around 350 members from 130 Gloucestershire WI branches at The Gloucestershire Federation of WIs Annual Council Meeting, at Cheltenham Town Hall. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Ann Scott and Patricia Beard. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Jacqui Woodhouse, Mary Day, and Margaret Simcock. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Jennifer Wearden, guest speaker from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Emma Corfield, Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire , also known as Emma Willis, the renowned shirt maker. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Mary Jess, the Gloucestershire singer who won the Chinese X-Factor, and a speaker at the WI Council meeting. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Vivien Sandham, Diana Le Clair, and May Cooper. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Vivien Phelps and Phyllis Woolnough. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Sara Jefferies and Karen Hudleston, selling raffle tickets. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Kath Delaney and Mary Lees. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

Joy Mills and Ann Apperley. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)

The signature of Anne, the Princess Royal, after visiting the Gloucestershire Federation of WIs Annual Council Meeting, at Cheltenham Town Hall. (Image: ©Thousand Word Media 2022)