Princess Anne paid tribute to her late father Prince Philip as she celebrated a major milestone for one of the institutions closest to his 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, who has served as a Royal Fellow of the Academy since 2010, met a number of pioneering young engineers at the event, including Lily Owuye, David MacDonald and Kitty Chia-Chi Liao.
The occasion also gave the princess an opportunity to reflect on Prince Philip’s continuing influence.
The Duke of Edinburgh played a key role in the academy’s creation, 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 “every individual’s life from cradle to grave.”
Looking ahead, the princess challenged engineers to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems, from health inequalities to national security and new technological challenges.
“As a profession, you have an obligation to build on these achievements and transform your collective creativity, expertise and ambition into a future that works for all,” she said.
“No profession is better placed to shape the world of the future.”
