The Princess Royal visited Epping Forest yesterday to open a charity’s new office and see a local business in action.

The royal toured the new glasshouse Valley Grown Nurseries in Nazeing, before cutting the ribbon on a new Citizens Advice Bureau office in Epping alongside Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing.

Princess Anne, who is a patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, met staff at the centre and representatives from the Theydon Trust, who build the new building.

Mrs Laing said: “The Citizens Advice Bureau provides a valuable service to the local community not just in Epping but throughout Epping Forest and it is great that they have been able to move into such a marvellous new base."

“I have watched our local CABs developing over the years and I was very pleased to have the opportunity to speak to some of the staff and volunteers who put so much time and effort into helping other people. They do a brilliant job.

"The Princess’s visit is a good way of saying thank you to them from the whole community.”

Princess Anne also toured Valley Grown Nurseries in Nazeing, visiting the new glasshouse at the site.

She signed unveiled a commemorative plaque and signed the same Lea Valley Growers’ Association visitors book that her grandmother, The Queen Mother, signed when she visited the Lea Valley in June 1959.

The Lea Valley has around 300 acres of specialist glasshouses, where growers produce over 200 million cucumbers, sweet peppers and other salad crops every year.

Lea Valley Growers Association secretary Lee Stiles said: “This new glasshouse represents an exciting development for the Lea Valley and we were delighted to have the opportunity to tell Her Royal Highness all about it today.

“Much has changed since the Queen Mother’s visit almost 60 years ago, but one thing that has remained constant is the enthusiasm and commitment of our growers to produce the best quality fresh food for the British public.”