HRH The Princess Royal visited St Edmund’s College yesterday (20/05) to formally open their award-winning student accommodation, Mount Pleasant Halls. 

During her visit, Princess Anne was formally admitted to the College as an Honorary Fellow. A ceremony, which took place in St Edmunds’ Chapel, was attended by benefactors of the College. 

The Princess Royal was accompanied by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Mrs Julie Spence, and spent 90 minutes at the College. She met a range of students, Fellows, and members of the College before the official opening of Mount Pleasant Halls. 

The royal visit marks the College’s first major event since March 2020, and was attended by the High Sheriff, Mrs Caroline Bewes, and representatives of local businesses who were involved in the “ambitious” accommodation project. 

Catherine Arnold, Master of the College, said: “It is an honour to have welcomed The Princess Royal to St Edmund’s as an Honorary Fellow, and for Her Royal Highness formally to have opened Mount Pleasant Halls.”

Arnold added that “Mount Pleasant Halls represents the importance St Edmund’s attaches to providing our growing number of students from across the UK and the world with a modern and welcoming home in Cambridge. 

“It also represents our partnership with local businesses and our role in the wider Cambridge community.”

The development was opened to students in 2019, and received the Collaboration of the Year Award in the 2019 Student Accommodation Awards. 

Prince Philip also received an Honorary Fellowship at the College in 2002, and visited the College several times.