THE Princess Royal's visit to KM Chatham Navy Days brought the events to a peak, with cheering crowds massing behind safety barriers to greet her.

During her three-hour visit she met both local dignitaries and brave youngsters who won awards in our newspaper's Pride in Medway scheme.

The Princess was accompanied by her husband Commodore Tim Lawrence, arriving by army-escorted vessel at Thunderbolt Pier. When she stepped on dry land she was greeted by a line of VIPs including Medway Mayor Ted Baker, and Gillingham MP Paul Clark and Bill Ferris, chief executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.

Mr Ferris said: "She seemed surprised by the vast numbers of people who had turned up to see her. She was enjoying the Jubilee and was keen to meet the people of Medway."

One of her next stops was the Kent Messenger Group marquee, where she met the Pride in Medway award winners. She was presented with a bouquet by Jessica Goodwin, 10, a non-swimmer who saved her little cousin from drowning. Jessica said: "She said she thought what I had done was brave. She seemed very nice and friendly.

Another award winner she met was Alfred "Podge" Page, the Medway boy who suffered extensive burns when his petrol-soaked clothes caught light. The Princess asked him how long ago he had been injured.

He became the focus of a shocked community when the incident happened in May 2000 when he was 11.

Princess Anne's next stop was to meet volunteers who had worked on the restoration of HMS Cavalier. Throughout her time in the main part the Navy Days site her path was lined by crowds of enthusiastic well-wishers waving Union Jacks and taking photos of her.

She was then driven in a black Range Rover, escorted by a police motorcade, to Chatham Maritime to view the warships and heritage fleet on display.

Among the members of the public she met there were Mark and Sylvia Faulkner, of Vidgeon Avenue, Hoo. Mr Faulkner said: "She asked us if we were local and if we knew our way around. She was lovely."

By the end of her visit the Princess Royal was brought to the main arena, where a red carpet was laid out for her. There she took the salute and watched the Musical Finale and Sunset Ceremony.