We were delighted to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to our offices on 8 July 2026, where she met our staff, volunteers and trustees to learn more about the work we do supporting local people across the Hart District.
As Patron of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, Her Royal Highness was welcomed by Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Colonel (Retd) Charles Ackroyd, our Chief Executive Officer Samantha Mabbott, our Vice Chair of Trustees Gareth Williams and Steve Hughes, Executive Director (Client & Member Services) at National Citizens Advice. We were joined by more than 35 staff, volunteers and guests for the occasion, including our Chair, Luke Burton and Councillor Stuart Bailey, Chair of Hart District Council.
Meeting our teams
During her visit, The Princess Royal toured our offices and met teams from across the organisation, including our Home & Well, Financial Resilience and Community Early Prevention, Advice First Aid, and Money Management services. Our team members shared insights into the growing and increasingly complex issues facing local residents, and explained how we help people overcome challenges relating to finances, housing, wellbeing and access to services.
Looking ahead
We also had the chance to talk to Her Royal Highness about our current priorities, including expanding our community outreach and early prevention services, improving accessibility and inclusion, supporting digital inclusion, and developing new specialist services. These include our recent appointment of a dedicated Energy Adviser and our plans to launch a new Gambling Harms Prevention Service later this year.
Unveiling a commemorative plaque
A highlight from the day was the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by HRH The Princess Royal, celebrating both her visit and our long history of providing free, confidential and independent advice to local people since 1969.
Last year alone, we supported more than 4,000 people across the Hart District, helping individuals and families resolve issues, improve their financial resilience and navigate difficult circumstances.
What our team had to say
Samantha Mabbott, our Chief Executive Officer, said:
“The whole team was absolutely delighted to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to Citizens Advice Hart. It means so much to us to have our Patron visit in person and take the time to learn about the work we do every day to support people across the Hart District.
“Our staff and volunteers are passionate about helping people find solutions to the challenges they face, and it was wonderful to be able to showcase the dedication, compassion and expertise that they bring to their roles. The visit was a truly memorable occasion and a proud moment for everyone involved.”
We were particularly pleased to share our ambitions around community outreach, early prevention, digital inclusion and the development of new services that will help us reach even more people in the years ahead.
Luke Burton, our Chair of Trustees, said:
“Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly to make a real difference to people’s lives, often supporting them through some of the most challenging times they may face. To have that work recognised by a visit from Her Royal Highness was a tremendous honour for the whole organisation.
“We are grateful to The Princess Royal for taking such a genuine interest in our services, our people and the communities we serve. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the impact Citizens Advice Hart has been making locally for more than 55 years.”
This visit was a great reminder of the important role we play in supporting local residents and strengthening communities across the Hart District, and of the dedication of the staff and volunteers who deliver these vital services every day.
