Zuma welcomes Princess Anne to SA

Monday, April 16, 2012

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has extended warm wishes to Royal Princess Anne who is expected to arrive in the country this morning as part of Queen Elizabeth II's jubilee.

"The President wishes the Princess Royal well during the visit, which will further strengthen relations between South Africa and the United Kingdom," his office said.

Zuma was due to meet the Princess Royal today but the engagement was cancelled because he will be in KwaZulu-Natal for the next two days.

The Princess Royal will meet Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe tomorrow in Pretoria.

The three-day visit by the Princess Royal - who is the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II - is part of the celebrations marking the Queen's 60 years on the throne.

According to the British High Commissioner to South Africa, Dame Nicola Brewer, the Princess Royal will undertake a visit to a number of non- government organisations she supports, such as the Save the Children and St John's Ambulance Service.

As part of her duties as member of the International Olympic Committee and President of the British Olympic Association, she will mark the 100-days countdown to the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games at a local school which forms part of the International Inspirations legacy project.

The Princess Royal will also lead a Ceremony of Remembrance and wreath laying at the graves of Commonwealth soldiers and the grave of her father, the Duke of Edinburgh's childhood nanny.