HUNDREDS of people turned out to welcome Princess Anne as she toured Eden and made a whistle-stop visit to South Lakeland.

Her Royal Highness was in the county to open the new parish hall at Warcop, celebrate the 450th anniversary of Kirkby Stephen Grammar, visit the Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue Team base and mark the 50th anniversary of the Windermere branch of Save the Children.

At Warcop, she was cheered by crowds of Union Jack waving villagers and introduced to the team of trustees and hall volunteers who are responsible for running the facility and arranging regular fundraising activities.

Ray Bromby, chair of the trustees, said: “The opening of the parish hall by The Princess Royal was a fitting tribute to all the people who have given their time so freely to help create this superb facility to help others.”

Photographs of the floods that damaged the old parish hall were on display, and HRH spoke to villagers about how they were affected by Storm Desmond.

The Princes Royal was then greeted at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School by children from the village primary school waving Union flags and cheering. She was handed a posie by year four pupil Amelia Girden.

During her time there, HRH visited the school's successful sports teams, enjoyed a meal prepared by the catering students, visited the cutting-edge technology department and unveiled a plaque marking the anniversary.

Headteacher Ruth Houston said: "It's very exciting. Not every school has an anniversary as significant as this. We are thrilled that Princess Anne has come to help us celebrate.

"It is very important for the local community. She will also be visiting the Mountain Rescue, who help us with our Duke of Edinburgh projects. Having a royal visit is an important occasion for everyone."

Chair of governors Simon Bennett added: "Not many schools can say that they have educated for 450 years continuously. It is fitting to have a royal visit to mark the occasion.

"I think the students are excited. This is such a small community that something like this involves everybody, so everybody gets excited.

"It is sometimes difficult to know if the royal family is still relevant to young people but when they come into the local community it brings it alive for them rather than being something they only see on TV or in the newspaper."

After hearing harp music played by students Elspeth and Cliona Clarke, HRH moved to the sports hall to see an array of demonstrations put on by the school's successful sports teams, including netball, hockey, equestrianism and rugby.

A keen sportswoman herself, the Princes Royal spent time talking to students about their achievements.

Head of PE Helen Paul said: "She was asking about how students participate in all activities. Everybody plays everything, and we get great results for such a small school.

"The pupils here were chosen because they contribute to a lot of school sport."

Netball captain Catherine Marston, who also plays for Northumbria, said: "It was an amazing experience, not a lot of people have this opportunity. It is a privilege."

School rugby star Andrew Leech said that HRH had asked him about the school's tours to South Africa, as well as the school's facilities.

She also took a keen interest in the equestrian team, using her own experience as an Olympic gold medal winner in the sport to talk about the horses and the competitions they took part in.

After eating the meal made by the catering students, the Princess Royal inspected the school's high-end technology department. As an advocate for the STEM subjects, and encouraging women in science, HRH took keen interest in what was on offer. The unveiling of the plaque in front of many of the students and staff followed.

A trip across the road took Princess Anne to the Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue station, where she saw displays of what the team do, and talked to members.

Arthur Littlefair, training officer at the station, said: "It has been a delight, a real pleasure to have her come.

"She has expressed keen interest in the work we have been doing and shown a clear understanding of what we are about.

"We talked about how mountain rescue is more than helping climbers. It is an essential part of the local community as a volunteer support for emergency services, funded by voluntary contributions."

A helicopter flight to Windermere saw HRH arrive at the Save the Children shop, to meet three long-serving members and celebrate the charity's 50th anniversary. HRH is president of the charity.

Jean Tolson and Eva Alexander have both volunteered for the charity for 50 years, and Edwina Saunders for 35.

Ms Tolson, who has met Princess Anne four times, said: "We have never known her to be like she was today. She was very friendly, it was wonderful. It was like talking to a friend.

"She was very impressed with the shop. She came here and opened it about 20 years ago."

Ms Saunders added: "She talked to everybody. She was delightful. We have a very good Save the Children shop here and we make a lot of money for the charity."

The shop was decorated for the Princes Royal's arrival by organiser Janet Taylor and supervisor Jackie Kenyon, both of whom the three long-serving volunteers were keen to commend for their hard work over the years.

Princess Anne left the shop to applause from many Windermere residents who had gathered around the entrance. She left the Lakes by helicopter from the Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge.