PRINCESS Anne visited Chelmsford for a formal reception celebrating the city status.

The Princess Royal was greeted by dignatories at Hylands House, including Chelmsford mayor Christopher Kingsley and Essex County Council chairman Kay Twitchen.

While at the venue the princess met up with the bid team behind Chelmsford’s city status proposal, along with cabinet members of Chelmsford Council.

After watching a presentation about the successful city status bid, she was then introduced to eight different groups of people representing the community, including volunteers, churches and businesses.

Mr Kingsley said it was a fantastic experience having the princess visit the city.

He said: “Clearly we were delighted we had the royal visitor and I think it was a very well organised day.

“We are also very fortunate to have Hylands House available to us for such occasions as this because of its scenery and and the fact we had lots of space for her highness’s helicopter to land.

“It is a great honour to have this city status bestowed upon us through the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations this year.

“Princess Anne did spend a lot of time with us and she spoke to everyone there at Hylands House who she was introduced to, which I think everyone was delighted with.”

The letters patent handed over from the House of Lords to the council to confirm Chelmsford as a city was displayed at the house, along with a Chelmsford Monopoly board.

Before leaving the venue, Princess Anne signed the council’s formal visitor book.