As patron of The National Museum, The Princess Royal enjoyed a private lunch on board HMS Warrior, where she thanked supporters and met the team who have recently completed a four-year conservation project. The project to replace the bulwarks - the walls around the upper deck - on the Victorian battleship to protect it from weather damage was made possible by a grant of £3.2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Its completion also coincided with the launch of an all-new visitor experience on board and The Princess Royal encountered several Victorian characters during her visit.
After lunch, Her Royal Highness visited Boathouse No.6, a short walk away from HMS Warrior and currently the home of Action Stations. Here, she learned more about the museum’s project to open a new Royal Marines Museum at the heart of the Historic Dockyard. She was shown around the converted Victorian boathouse by Professor Dominic Tweddle, director general of The National Museum of the Royal Navy and Matthew Sheldon, director of heritage.
Professor Tweddle commented: “We are honoured to have HRH The Princess Royal as a very active patron of the museum, and it was a particular pleasure to show her the completed work on HMS Warrior and explain the progress achieved with the new Royal Marines Museum project. Our staff and volunteers really enjoy meeting her and our visitors often catch a glimpse, which adds considerably to their experience on site!”
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