The Princess Royal at Honeypot

Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, visits Honeypot Hampshire house

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, President of Carers Trust, visits The Honeypot Children’s Charity to meet young carers and celebrate the power of volunteering.

The Honeypot Children’s Charity was delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, President of Carers Trust, to its Hampshire house in the New Forest, where she met young carers and volunteers and learned more about the charity’s work supporting young carers and children aged 5 to 12, facing difficult circumstances.

The visit provided an opportunity for Her Royal Highness to see first-hand how Honeypot supports young carers and gives them the chance to enjoy the childhood experiences they deserve, but so often lack.

During her visit, The Princess Royal met young carers on a residential Respite Break at Honeypot and heard directly about what it is like to grow up with caring responsibilities. She was shown around the house and its grounds, seeing some of the activities and spaces designed to give children time to relax, have fun and simply be children.

Young carers remain at the heart of everything Honeypot does. The charity supports young carers and children aged 5–12 facing difficult circumstances through a range of services, including residential Respite Breaks, Health and Wellbeing Breaks, Memory Making experiences and practical help for families.

The Princess Royal visited one of the special Canopy Trees gifted to The Honeypot Children’s Charity as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, planted to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. During the visit, Her Royal Highness also unveiled a special commemorative plaque marking the visit to Honeypot and celebrating the charity’s 30th anniversary.

Volunteers are fundamental to Honeypot’s work and play a vital role in making its services possible. During the visit, The Princess Royal met Honeypot volunteers, including Derrick Young, and heard about the many ways they give their time, skills and experience to support young carers and the charity’s wider work.

Her Royal Highness also visited Honeypot’s new Sensory Play Room for children, which will be completed soon. She heard about the practical skills and commitment volunteers bring to creating a welcoming and fun environment where children can relax, explore and enjoy their time at Honeypot.

From supporting children at Honeypot’s houses and activities to helping with fundraising, events and community engagement, Honeypot’s volunteers make an enormous contribution to the charity. Their commitment enables Honeypot to do more and reach more children, helping the charity to create happy memories and build brighter futures.

The visit provided an opportunity for volunteers to share why they give their time to Honeypot and the difference volunteering can make to the children and families supported by the charity. It was also an opportunity for Honeypot to recognise and celebrate the vital contribution volunteers make every day.

Simmi Woodwal, Chief Executive, The Honeypot Children’s Charity said:

The visit comes as The Honeypot Children’s Charity celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of supporting children and young carers and creating opportunities for them to make happy memories and build brighter futures.

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