The Princess Royal travelled to Wales, where she attended two events: a meeting with members of the National Coastwatch Institution and a visit to the Merthyr Tydfil maternity unit.
Her Royal Highness arrived on 3 April, and her first stop was St. Donats Bay at UWC Atlantic, where she met volunteers and students in a cadet programme held by the National Coastwatch Institution.
The college’s students are receiving training to become “lifesavers of the future”; their job will be to be lookouts for any potential dangers along the coast, be it to boats, people or the natural environment.
The training is part of a collaborative venture between the two institutions, which also brings benefits to the local community. The St Donats Bay Station manager said: “The students are inspiring to our crew, and we know when they graduate and return home, the skills they’ve learnt will be used across the world.”
The Princess’s next stop was Merthyr Tydfil, where she visited the Maternity Unity at the local Prince Charles Hospital. The visit was made in her role as Patron of the Royal College of Midwives.
Her Royal Highness received a tour of the facility, visiting both the teaching and delivery areas. Throughout the tour, she managed to chat with staff members, both students and experienced midwives, as well as the people doing support work in the birthing process and administrators.
Before leaving, the Princess Royal unveiled a plaque commemorating her visit, which will remain on display in the unit.
Throughout her visit, she was accompanied by several officials in the hospital structure, including the Royal College of Midwives’s Director for Wales, who later said: “This was a wonderful day and a real and well-deserved honour for the staff. It is one that will remain in their memories for a long, long time. […] The maternity team were able to tell the Princess Royal about the wonderful work they do in the unit to ensure women get the best possible care and choices.”
