Princess Anne marks a moment 13 years in the making

Princess Anne has officially opened a new headquarters for Sunbury and Walton Sea Cadets, bringing a 13-year effort to provide the unit with a permanent home to a close.

The Princess Royal, who serves as Patron of the Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) and Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, visited the new headquarters to meet cadets, volunteers and supporters involved in the long-running project.

The new facility provides modern training spaces and improved facilities, while its location beside the River Thames gives cadets direct access to the water.

It will allow young people to take part in activities including sailing, rowing, paddlesports, seamanship, navigation and marine engineering.

During her visit, The Princess Royal toured the new headquarters and met cadets and volunteers to learn more about the work taking place at the unit.

She also unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the official opening of the building.

Leading Cadet Alice, 16, had a particularly prominent role during the visit, leading the Cadet Guard and accompanying The Princess Royal during the unveiling.

Speaking about the occasion, Alice said she had never imagined that joining the Sea Cadets would eventually lead to her standing alongside a member of the Royal Family.

She added that the organisation had helped her develop confidence and leadership skills, particularly through supporting younger cadets on the water.

The new headquarters, she said, would provide the unit with greater opportunities for teaching, training and spending time together.

For another young cadet, 11-year-old Able Junior Cadet Breah Rough, meeting The Princess Royal was initially “nerve-wracking”.

Breah was taking part in a First Aid class observed by The Princess Royal and later presented her with a posy.

She said afterwards that she was “really proud” of herself for meeting the royal.

Breah, who has been a Sea Cadet for just over a year, said she hoped to remain with the organisation until she turns 18.

She also highlighted the advantage of the unit’s location beside the river, explaining that cadets have the opportunity to go out on boats without needing to travel elsewhere.

The new building has also given the unit additional classroom and communal space, as well as improved facilities for activities such as first aid training.

The headquarters is the culmination of 13 years of work by volunteers, trustees, supporters and community partners to establish a permanent base for Sunbury and Walton Sea Cadets.

Guy Holloway, CEO of the Marine Society & Sea Cadets, described the opening as a “landmark moment” for the unit and the young people who will use the building in the years ahead.

He praised those involved in the project for their dedication over more than a decade, saying their efforts had created a permanent home and a lasting resource for young people in the local community.

Sea Cadets currently supports more than 14,000 young people aged between nine and 17 through more than 400 units across the UK.

The charity says around 9,000 volunteers help young people develop practical skills, confidence and independence through its programme of maritime adventure and personal development.

During 2025/26, cadets completed more than 416,000 boating hours, gained more than 37,000 qualifications and took part in more than 70,000 days of specialist training away from their local units.

The opening of the new headquarters provides Sunbury and Walton Sea Cadets with a permanent base from which to continue that work for years to come.