THE Princess Royal arrived in Cranbrook on Friday to open officially the Weald Information Centre.

Princess Anne was due to arrive at 10.30am, but heavy fog in London prevented her helicopter from taking off as planned, and she had to come instead by train to Staplehurst, and then by car, arriving some 20 minutes late.

She was met by an expectant crowd numbering around 150 plus scores of flag-waving children from Years 2 and 6 of Cranbrook Primary School, and serenaded with carols by a joint choir from Angley and Cranbrook Schools on the steps of the Vestry Hall.

Inside the centre, the Princess was introduced to Kim Fletcher, chairman of the Cranbrook Rural Town Partnership; John London, chairman of Kent County Council; Cllr Jennifer Paulson-Ellis, the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells; Cllr Brian Clifford, chairman of the information centre; Peter North, chairman of Cranbrook Parish Council, and Deborah North, the centre's manager.

Chris Ditton, of Hurstway Construction, whose company had created the centre from within the towns' old fire station, explained the various building work that had been undertaken.

Afterwards, the Princess moved upstairs to the Vestry Hall, where representatives from the many villages and groups involved in the Cranbrook Partnership had exhibitions of their work.

The Princess took her time touring the hall, drinking a coffee, and chatting for several minutes to each group.

Among those introduced to her was Dorothy Paul, 87, who had been the Sister at Benenden School, a few miles away, when the Princess Royal was a pupil there. Mrs Paul, from Goudurst, said afterwards: "It was lovely to see her again. She said she remembered me very well."

The Princess concluded her visit by unveiling a plaque, to be hung in the Old Fire Station, commemorating the event, and meeting Fiona Fletcher and her niece Poppy Swallow, 13, who together had embroided the plaque's cover.

Mr Fletcher said: "I think things went really well. The Princess was so relaxed, everyone enjoyed taking to her. With her rural background, her love of horses and the countyside, she understands very well what the project is all about."