Princess Anne paid tribute to her late father, Prince Philip, as she celebrated a major milestone for one of the institutions closest to her heart.
The Princess Royal attended a special reception at St James’s Palace on June 11 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Anne, a veteran engineering advocate, who has served as a Royal Fellow of the Academy since 2010, met several pioneering young engineers during the event, including Lily Owuye, David MacDonald and Kitty Chia-Chi Liao.
The occasion also gave the princess the opportunity to reflect on Prince Philip’s enduring influence.
The Duke of Edinburgh played a key role in setting up the Academy, hosting its first meeting at Buckingham Palace with 130 engineers and helping to champion the profession at the highest level.
In a heartfelt anniversary message, Anne honored her father’s legacy by recalling his belief that engineering affects “the life of every individual from the cradle to the grave.”
Looking ahead, the Princess challenged engineers to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems, from health inequalities to national security and emerging technological challenges.
“As a profession, you have an obligation to build on these achievements and turn your collective creativity, experience and ambition into a future that works for everyone,” he said.
“No profession is better placed to shape the world of tomorrow.”
