With little pomp and ceremony a relaxed Princess Royal made a flying visit to Ashford on Thursday morning.

Residents in Willesborough were surprised when a chartered helicopter landed in the Osbourne Road recreation ground and spotted the Princess being welcomed by Kent's deputy Lord Lieutenant Edwin Boorman before being driven off in convey through the Orbital Business Park to the Invicta Chamber of Commerce headquarters at Waterbrook.

As Patron of the College of Occupational Therapists the Princess was guest of honour at Kent and Medway NHS and social Care Partnership Trust conference on health and wellbeing.

She was greeted at the centre by Ashford Mayor, Cllr John Link, KCC chairman Peter Lake, Ashford MP Damian Green, Chamber chief executive Jo James and Trust chairman Peter Smallridge.

Then in a relaxed and informal gathering she was introduced to almost 50 health care professionals from across Kent before briefly addressing the opening of the conference.

She spoke with considerable knowledge of the challenges facing those working in the profession, praising their efforts in responding to the increasing demands of people with mental heath and learning disability problems.

She stayed for an hour before returning to London for a meeting of the Olympic committee.