VOLUNTEERS and those who work within the Isle of Wight's maritime, coastwatch and lifeboat organisations enjoyed a visit by Princess Anne today (Monday 6).

HRH The Princess Royal was accompanied by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and IW Lord Lieutenant Maj Gen Sir Martin White on several engagements throughout the day.

As patron of National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), the princess paid a visit to NCI Needles Station in the morning to formally open the newly refurbished station, present awards to watchkeepers and present station manager Tony Stables with the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

She then visited the Hampshire and IW Wildlife Trust in Cowes, and the RNLI lifeboat station in Cowes, before crossing the River Medina by lifeboat to tour the RNLI lifeboat station in East Cowes.

She spent more than an hour at the East Cowes site and officially opened a new visitors' centre, signing the visitors' book and revealing that she wouldn't put her email address for a very good reason — she doesn't have one.

Princess Anne will tonight attend a reception at the Royal London Yacht Club and enjoy dinner at the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Tomorrow, she will remain on the Island to enjoy some of Cowes Week.