Princess Alexandra set to visit Shropshire Star offices for 50th anniversary
In its 50th anniversary year, a right royal summer highlight is promised for the Shropshire Star.
On July 10, the company is delighted to be welcoming Princess Alexandra to its Ketley headquarters in Telford.
The princess, who is the Queen's cousin and one of our busiest and most popular royals, has been a regular visitor to the county over the years, supported by her lady-in-waiting Meriel Afia who lives near Shifnal.
Her Royal Highness's Shropshire Star visit will include meeting personnel from the company as well as local dignitaries.
There will also be a tour of the building when the special visitor will have the opportunity to see how the newspaper is put together and hear a little of its history over the past half century.
In recent times, Princess Alexandra has visited a school and an organic farm in Shifnal and in 2007 she was president of Shrewsbury Flower Show, in the year in which her lady-in-waiting Mrs Afia was Shropshire's High Sheriff, and so took on both official roles for the day.
Over the years, the Shropshire Star has reported on all these happy occasions, as well as the princess's other formal visits to the county.
The princess is also president of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, which has its headquarters in Telford, following in the footsteps of her mother, the late Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.
In her time, Princess Marina also visited Shropshire several times – notably as patron of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital at Oswestry.
Princess Alexandra will visit Tickwood Farm near Much Wenlock, the former home of the late Sir John and Lady Katherine Dugdale.
Lady Dugdale was for many years a senior lady-in-waiting to Her Majesty, the Queen. And now, it is their son Edward who will be doing the honours and welcoming the princess.
So the proud, royal tradition of visits to our county continue and on this occasion, the Shropshire Star is delighted to be a host.
Shropshire's Lord Lieutenant Sir Algernon Heber-Percy said: "We are delighted and very honoured that Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra is once again coming to visit us in Shropshire. And that she is visiting Tickwood Farm which for so long was the home of a lady-in-waiting to the Queen.
"While we all in Shropshire wish to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Shropshire Star. The newspaper, has been hugely supportive and helpful in the planning and coverage of our royal visits throughout all those years.
"We are thrilled that Her Royal Highness is going to visit their offices and meet many of the staff of the newspaper which will help highlight the big birthday. I look forward to the day very much."
