Princess Anne is in London’s East End this-afternoon meeting therapy patients in a hospital gym.

She is officially opening the new Therapy department at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel and is being shown the facilities and looking in on the gymnasium.

The Princess Royal, who is patron of the College of Occupational Therapists, has unveiled a plaque to mark the opening, after being welcomed by Sir Stephen O’Brien, newly-knighted chairman of Bart’s NHS Trust which runs the hospital.

The princess was being greeted by senior staff as well as meeting patients and VIPs including Bethnal Green & Bow MP Rushanara Ali and Tower Hamlets council’s First Citizen and chairman Rajib Ahmed.