A new care home has been officially opened by a member of the Royal Family.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Royal Patron of the charity Friends of the Elderly, visited Friends Place in Calcot, Reading, to mark the occasion.
The Princess was welcomed by Rachel Hill, chief executive of Friends of the Elderly, and chief operating officer Mark Wilson, who accompanied her on a tour of the home.
During the visit, The Princess Royal met residents and staff and explored the care home’s new facilities, including a cinema room, beauty salon, garden room, and sky bar.
Ms Hill said: “It was an honour to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Friends Place and to showcase our new state-of-the-art care home and the exceptional dedication of our care team.
“2025 marks Friends of the Elderly’s 120th anniversary which is a very important milestone for us and to have the official opening of Friends Place by HRH The Princess Royal, the charity’s patron, was so greatly appreciated by all of us at Friends of the Elderly.”
Friends Place offers residential, dementia, and respite care, as well as a day care service, all delivered by a “compassionate and experienced” team.
The care home is designed to create a warm, supportive environment where residents feel valued and secure.
The Princess Royal’s connection to the charity follows more than 60 years of support from Queen Elizabeth II, who previously served as Royal Patron.
Friends of the Elderly said it continues to value the support of the Royal Family, including through the ongoing presidency of Princess Alexandra.
Mr Wilson said: “We take great pride in supporting the older people we care for in an environment where every individual feels valued, safe and engaged.
“We’re proud to offer a warm, modern home where every detail has been designed with residents’ wellbeing in mind.
“Friends Place not only brings high-quality care but will also bring 30 new jobs to the local area – and we’re thrilled to be part of the Calcot community.”
The charity, which will celebrate its 120th anniversary in 2025, said Friends Place reflects its long-standing mission to provide high-quality, personalised care for older people.
Ms Hill said: “With over 120 years of experience, Friends of the Elderly is proud to continue its mission of providing personalised, compassionate care that supports older people to live full and dignified lives in a warm, homely environment where residents feel safe, supported and part of the community.
“We are excited about the future and look forward to working with Her Royal Highness on our many important projects and initiatives that support older people.”