Princess Anne reunites with legendary author Sir Michael Morpurgo for special anniversary
Princess Anne reunites with legendary author Sir Michael Morpurgo for special anniversary
Ben McCaffrey Thu, September 24, 2026 at 6:56 PM UTC
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Princess Anne, | Source: INSTAGRAM: @THEROYALFAMILY
Buckingham Palace today released photographs of the Princess Royal at a farm in Devon alongside legendary author Sir Michael Morpurgo and Lady Clare Morpurgo.
Princess Anne, 76, appeared in cheerful spirits as she marked charity Farms for City Children's 50th anniversary.
The princess travelled to Nethercott House, situated near Iddesleigh and Winkleigh, on Wednesday to join celebrations for the milestone.
The images, published on Thursday, captured Her Royal Highness at the charity's original farm - the very place where the organisation's work began half a century ago.
Anne's visit represented a particularly meaningful occasion, given that the Princess Royal has served as patron of the charity for 35 years.
Founders, staff, volunteers and schoolchildren were all present to mark the landmark with their long-standing royal supporter.
Farms for City Children was established by Sir Michael and his wife Lady Clare, and has grown into one of Britain's most enduring rural education charities.
Across five decades, the organisation has welcomed upwards of 108,000 young people from cities and urban communities to experience life on a working farm.
The charity operates three sites - in Devon, Gloucestershire and Pembrokeshire - where children from disadvantaged backgrounds spend a full week living and learning in the countryside.
These residential stays offer pupils from inner-city areas, particularly those facing inequality, a rare chance to engage directly with food production, animal husbandry and the natural world.
It is a model that the Morpurgos have long championed as transformative, and one that has endured remarkably since its modest Devon beginnings.
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Princess Anne | Source: INSTAGRAM: @THEROYALFAMILY
During her tour of the farm, the Princess Royal was accompanied by Sir Michael and Lady Clare as she observed pupils from John Donne Primary School engaged in a variety of hands-on tasks.
The visiting children were seen grooming horses and donkeys, cultivating produce in the estate's heritage walled garden, and participating in an innovative agroforestry initiative known as the roundels project.
Her Royal Highness also spent time with charity staff, volunteers, partners and supporters, hearing about the organisation's ambitions to extend its reach to future generations of young people.
As the visit drew to a close, Sir Michael presented the Princess Royal with a copy of his recently published memoir, Down Burrow Lane.
The book places the charity at the centre of its narrative - a project Sir Michael has frequently described as the finest story he and Lady Clare ever created together.
Princess Anne | Source: INSTAGRAM: @THEROYALFAMILY
Sir Michael spoke warmly of the occasion, saying: "It is a tremendous honour to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal back to Nethercott House as we celebrate 50 years of Farms for City Children."
He added: "Her support and encouragement over so many years has meant a great deal to everyone connected with our charity."
Chief executive Corinna Csaky hailed the royal visit as among the highlights of an already memorable anniversary year.
She said: "We are enormously grateful for The Princess Royal's longstanding patronage and support. Her visit is a wonderful recognition of the dedication of our founders, staff, volunteers and supporters as well as the thousands of children whose lives have been enriched through time spent on our farms."
The charity confirmed its commitment to broadening access to its programmes for years to come.
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