Princess Anne meets Somerset Hospital volunteers and award winners for young people

The Princess Royal met hospital volunteers and young award winners on a visit to Somerset.

She traveled to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, to see its first surgical robot in action, before heading to Bridgwater and Taunton College, where she spoke to the recipients of the Pride of Somerset Youth Awards.

Fred Bell and Lewis Townsend, who are part of the ZP4 charity, won the Sandy Padgett Award and said it was a “good experience” to meet Princess Anne.

“We gave Princess Anne a hat and a travel mug to keep,” said Fred. “I hope they wear it to Buckingham Palace.”

When Fred and Lewis’ friend Zach died unexpectedly in December 2022, a group of friends started the ZP4 charity in his name.

As Zach was a huge sports fan, they aim to raise money for a new pitch in his memory by fundraising at local clubs and selling charity items.

Leah Spanswick, 15, won the Young Carers Award for looking after her mother, who needs support with daily tasks.

“I was a bit nervous at first but after talking to her (Princess Anne) I was fine. She said I was a brilliant person,” said Leah.

Sienna Kayes, 19, is the managing director of the Finding Peace Foundation, a mental health charity which donates bursaries and resources to UK secondary schools.

On meeting Princess Anne, she said: “It was really nice to have an open conversation with her about the work that we do and that all the winners here have done to get to this point.”

Princess Anne also visited Musgrove Park Hospital to meet a group of volunteers who funded the hospital’s first robotic arm.

The hospital’s League of Friends donated £1.5 million to buy the robot, which surgeons used to operate on more than 200 people in its first year.

Richard Bamford, consultant colorectal surgeon, said: “It was fantastic to show Her Royal Highness our latest state-of-the-art robotic surgery operating system.

“We are forever grateful to the League of Friends and its supporters for the passion they have shown in helping to bring this technology to our hospital.”