Princess Anne has been photographed for the first time since her son's blunder over his wedding announcement.
The Princess Royal dined on a classic British seaside meal of fish, chips and tartare sauce during a visit to Colmans Seafood Temple in South Shields today.
Anne, 75, was welcomed at the converted bandstand venue, which offers sweeping views across the South Tyneside seafront.
The family-owned establishment marks its centenary in 2026, having first opened its doors on Ocean Road back in 1926.
Princess Anne pictured for first time since son's blunder over wedding announcement
|GETTY / PA
Now in its fifth generation, the business remains a beloved institution in the North East, with the seafood temple location launching in 2017.
This engagement marked Princess Anne's first public appearance since a spokesman for her son, Peter Phillips, confirmed he would marry Harriet Sperling this summer.
However, the initial press release incorrectly stated the wedding would take place on July 6, which later turned out to be a blunder.
Mr Phillips, the eldest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, will instead marry the paediatric nurse and freelance writer in a private ceremony at All Saints Church in Cirencester on Saturday, June 6.
The Princess Royal arriving at the Colmans Seafood Temple in South Shields
|PA
The couple, who began their relationship in 2024 and announced their engagement last August, have informed senior royals, including the King and Queen, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, of their wedding plans.
Princess Anne's royal visit from earlier today represented a significant milestone for Colmans, which has never before hosted a member of the Royal Family.
The Princess Royal demonstrated a keen interest in the provenance and sustainability of her meal, a restaurant spokesman revealed following the visit.
She enquired about the origins of both the fish and the potatoes served to her.
Peter Phillips is the son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, while Ms Sperling's parents are the late Rupert Sanders and Mary Sanders of Gloucestershire
| PAThe spokesman confirmed that the fish had been landed from the North Sea just the previous evening, whilst the potatoes were sourced from local growers.
"You can't come to South Shields without having our fish and chips," director Richard Colman Ord remarked, describing it as an honour to serve the princess the restaurant's signature dish.
Director Richard Colman Ord spoke of the emotional significance of the occasion, noting that Princess Anne had awarded his father, Richard Ord Snr, an MBE in 2021 for his contributions to hospitality and regeneration in South Tyneside.
Princess Anne's divorced son (right) will marry Harriet Sperling (middle) at a church wedding this summer | GETTY"This feels like a full circle moment, and it's a very proud day for the Colman family and for the people of South Shields," he said.
Though the restaurant has welcomed numerous high-profile guests over the decades, including Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, director Sam Mendes and musician Sting, today marked its first royal visit.
Princess Anne was also briefed on the Colmans Foundation, a charitable trust set to launch within weeks.