Princess Anne launches new tall ship one day before her son Peter's wedding
Princess Anne fulfilled a royal engagement in Portsmouth one day ahead of her son Peter's remarriage
The Princess Royal has officially welcomed a new vessel to the fleet of the Tall Ships Youth Trust charity during a visit to Portsmouth, according to a statement released by the royal family.
"Designed as a 'floating classroom', Challenger 5 will give even more young people the chance to develop new skills, build confidence, and realise their potential at sea," the statement read.
It further noted that "during a visit to Portsmouth, HRH met staff, volunteers, and young people involved with Tall Ships Youth Trust, a youth development and outdoor learning charity, and toured the new vessel before it sets sail on its first adventures."
Royal duty on the eve of a family celebration
Princess Anne carried out the engagement just one day before her son Peter Phillips was due to marry. Phillips, 48, and Harriet Sperling, 45, are set to exchange vows on Saturday at All Saints Church in Kemble, Cirencester.
Both Phillips and Sperling have been married previously. Phillips has two daughters — Savannah, 14, and Isla, 13 — from his 13-year marriage to Autumn Phillips. Sperling, who works as a paediatric nurse for the NHS, has a teenage daughter named Georgia from a former relationship.
