THERE was a royal visitor in the area on Friday.

Princess Anne attended a fundraising reception in Chavenage House in Tetbury this afternoon. 

It was Princess Anne’s first royal engagement in Gloucestershire since the death of Queen Elizabeth, her mother and Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

The event was organised by Minchinhampton Surgery Charitable Trust which has plans to build an estimated £6 million new GP building on Cirencester Road. 

Princess Anne has been Royal Patron of the surgery trust since 2012. 

Anne, now sister to the new monarch, King Charles III, drove herself to the event from Gatcombe Park and was joined by her lady-in-waiting Margaret Hammond. 

She was greeted by Lord Lieutenant Edward Gillespie and High Sheriff Sir Dusty Miller. 

Over 100 people attended the fundraising reception with friends and patrons of the Minchinhampton Surgery. 

One of the people Princess Anne spoke to was the surgery’s finance assistant Elizabeth Shale. 

Elizabeth’s daughter Robin who is 6-years-old made a card for the Princess Royal which had the letter P - for princess - with a crown on top. 

Elizabeth said: “I showed the card to Princess Anne and she said it was very exotic.

“Robin will be so pleased, it’s a moment to remember. 

“I gave the card to the lady in waiting and we might even get a royal response. 

“They took down my address so I’m hoping Robin will hear from the Princess Royal.” 

Dr Andy Simpson a GP at the surgery said: “Today’s event went so very well, I’m so pleased she spoke to everyone in the room.”

“She’s really supportive and has a real understanding of the practice and what we want to achieve. 

“We have such a great opportunity to offer extra services at the new site. 

“We’re so lucky that the parish council has helped us with the land. 

“Working in Minchinhampton is absolutely fantastic. 

“People care about the surgery so much and I just feel so lucky to work here. 

SDC Councillor for Minchampton Nick Hurst said the old surgery is ‘cramped’

He said: “I’ve met Princess Anne on a number of occasions, she’s always just so approachable.

“Today she was super. 

“We’ve been trying to get the new surgery built for more years than I care to remember. 

“We’ve just got to get on with it and deliver good services to everyone in Minchinhampton. 

“The old surgery is cramped, they're literally working out of a shoe box.” 

The trust has been trying to move out of its current site on Bell Lane for the last 15 years. 

In March this year the surgery was granted planning permission by Stroud District Council to build the new building in Vosper Field which includes a dentistry, 71 parking spaces with eight EV charging points. 

Building work is planned to start in March 2023 with the surgery opening in December 2024.