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The first royal visit to Haverhill for more than 20 years took place this afternoon when the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, spent three hours in the town.

She performed engagements at Samuel Ward Academy, at Genzyme and at the new council offices, Haverhill House in Lower Downs Slade.

The royal visitor arrived shortly after midday by helicopter, landing on Samuel Ward playing fields, and toured the year seven and eight building, heard a short concert by the school choir and then opened the academy's new sports hall.

The royal party took lunch at the school and then headed off to Genzyme, in Rookwood Way, where the Princess toured the site to see various processes in action, before unveiling a plaque in the restaurant to commemorate 30 years of Genzyme in Haverhill.

The final port of call was Haverhill House, the newly integrated base in Lower Downs Slade for St Edmundsbury Borough and Suffolk County Councils, along with Haverhill Volunteer Centre, HAVO and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

Princess Anne’s last visit to Haverhill, in 1991, was to open the CAB’s offices, at that time in Swan Lane.

After officially opening the new centre, the Princess returned to her helicopter at Samuel Ward and left shortly before 4pm.

To see our gallery of pictures of Princess Anne's visit to Haverhill click the link below...