Princess Royal in Saltash, and a flower girl from 36 years ago

Thirty-six years ago, a four-year-old girl in Helensburgh handed the Princess Royal a bunch of flowers. She was so nervous she could not remember a single word that was said to her. On Tuesday, in Saltash, she got a second go.

That girl is now Emily Aston (née Vinton), a Triage Caseworker with The Naval Children’s Charity, and she was the one presenting the flowers again when the charity welcomed its Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, to China Fleet Country Club on Tuesday 13 October.

A patronage passed from mother to daughter

The Princess Royal became Patron of The Naval Children’s Charity in March 2025. Before that, the role was held for many years by her mother, the late Queen, who was Royal Patron for more than 70 years.

For the royal visit, Her Royal Highness was welcomed by Kevin Arnold, the charity’s Vice Chair, and its CEO, Clare Scherer MBE. They were joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon and Cornwall, the Mayor, Mayoress and Clerk of Saltash, and the Chair of the China Fleet Trust.

📷The Princess Royal meets guests during her visit to the Naval Children's Charity

Hearing from the families it helps

The Princess Royal and the assembled guests were given a presentation on the charity’s work, which included hearing first hand from some of the people it has supported.

She then met the guests and unveiled a plaque marking the visit.

The same flowers, 36 years later

The flowers that followed carried a bit more meaning than usual. Emily first presented the Princess Royal with flowers in Helensburgh, where her father was a serving Submariner, when she was just four years old.

She admitted at the time that nerves had wiped the whole conversation from her memory. The charity is hoping things went better this time round.

📷Speaking during the presentation on the Naval Children's Charity's work

Two centuries of helping Naval children

The Naval Children’s Charity has been helping the children of serving and veteran Naval personnel for 200 years. Its first orphanage opened in 1825, and the work has changed a great deal since.

It is a national charity supporting Naval children across the UK and around the world. The headquarters is in Portsmouth, with outreach caseworkers based in Helensburgh and Plymouth. It helps around 2,000 children directly each year, and many thousands more through its resources and work with communities and other organisations.

It has also recently formed a Youth Council, made up of young people who are helping to shape its strategy.

The charity’s view is that being the child of someone who is, or has been, in the Royal Navy should be something to be proud of, and that it is there for those children whose lives are more difficult.

Clare said: “On behalf of all at the Naval Children’s Charity we offer our warmest thanks to Her Royal Highness for her visit to learn more about our work. The Princess Royal has taken great interest, over the years, in the wellbeing of our families and Her Royal Highness’s commitment to the charities that she serves is outstanding.”

Naval charities working side by side

The visit was hosted by the China Fleet Trust, a naval charity that supports serving personnel, veterans and families of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Maritime Reserves through health, wellbeing, respite and direct support.

Rear Admiral John Weale CB OBE, Chair of Trustees at the China Fleet Trust, said: “We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to China Fleet and to host this celebration of the Naval Children’s Charity’s outstanding work. The event reflects the strong collaboration that exists between charities serving the Royal Navy family, with organisations coming together to support many of the same beneficiaries.

“By working in partnership, we can extend our collective reach and help ensure naval children, families and veterans receive the support they need throughout their lives.”

For Clare, the patronage itself carries weight. “The Princess Royal’s patronage is a great endorsement of our work helping to make a lasting difference to our children and young people’s lives,” she said.

📷The Princess Royal is welcomed at China Fleet Country Club, Saltash