HRH The Princess Royal, Royal Patron of the National Coastwatch Institution, the national charity which runs lookout stations around the coast of England and Wales in support of HM Coastguard, attended a Reception held at the Corporation of Trinity House, London, to mark the launch of the charity’s five-year Business Plan 2022-2026.

HRH the Princess Royal with National Coastwatch Institute national and sector managers

The event, held on Tuesday 22nd February 2022, was hosted by the NCI Trustees, national and sector managers, and two NCI patrons, Dame Katherine Grainger DBE, and Air Marshal Sir Christopher Coville KCB. Sponsors, donors, representatives from HM Coastguard and the RNLI, membership organisations involved in sea safety and industry, journalists from the nautical press and media, publishers, authors, and city livery companies were all in attendance and all received a copy of the Business Plan.

The Reception included an illustrated presentation of the projected plan (now underway), which concluded with a speech by The Princess Royal in which HRH expressed her admiration for the charity’s work supporting HMCG, the RNLI and other emergency services adding untold value to the United Kingdom’s Search and Rescue capability, and her encouragement to carry out the development plan which will enhance the ability and capacity of the NCI.

The Princess Royal became Royal Patron in 2017 and during the four years since then has visited many NCI stations around the coast and attended a number of national events, including a station managers’ meeting, and the annual Receptions held at the Corporation of Trinity House, London, of which she is Master.