Princess Anne surprised students in Newcastle this week when she paid a visit to Northumbria University during a trip to the North East.
Her Royal Highness enjoyed a tour of the university campus on Tuesday, February 8 where she heard about its work to transform the lives of military veterans.
During her visit, Princess Anne learned about Northumbria’s Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research which was set up in 2014 to bring together academics, ex-servicemen and women and experts who are dedicated to improving the health and social wellbeing of veterans and their families.
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Princess Anne met with academics who are carrying out research to understand the needs of the veteran community and helping to improve services and support.
Her Royal Highness spent time speaking with the team about their work which includes projects to support bereaved military families, older limbless veterans and the LGBT+ veteran community.
The Princess Royal also heard about their investigation into veteran poverty and food insecurity and a project commissioned by the Ministry of Defence to map the needs of veterans across the UK.
Director of the Northern Hub for Veteran and Military Families’ Research, Professor Matthew Kiernan, is a former Lieutenant Commander in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service.
“It is a real privilege for us to share the hub’s translational research to improve the health and social wellbeing of the veteran community with The Princess Royal," he said.
“Our work is driven by the needs of veterans and their families.
"Integration into the community that we work with and for is at the heart of the hub’s mission.
"As a multidisciplinary team of academics and experts by experience, we strive to attract and facilitate collaboration across the Armed Forces sector and work as a collective force for impact and change across emotionally challenging matters.
"It is an honour for the hub’s hard work to be recognised by Her Royal Highness. “
Her Royal Highness also had a look around the university's multi-million pound Student Central building which hosts student support services before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the visit.
Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, vice-chancellor and chief executive of Northumbria University, said: “Northumbria is extremely proud of the work of the Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families’ Research, which is supporting vital activity to reduce health and wellbeing inequalities among those who have served their country.
"We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to our city campus during this special year commemorating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and to demonstrate the significant contribution Northumbria is making through its research and partnerships to support the nation’s veteran community.”
Northumbria was the first university in the North East to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016, setting out its pledge to support service personnel, veterans and their families.
