Princess Anne Visits D’Oyly Carte Island
For Immediate Release
D’Oyly Carte Island, Weybridge, England - February 7, 2025 Her Royal Highness Princess Royal Anne, sister of King Charles, visited Eyot House on D’Oyly Carte Island on February 7, 2025 during the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. During her visit, the Princess Royal greeted Andy and Sheila Hill and others who have been involved in the meticulous restoration of the iconic home of Richard and Helen D’Oyly Carte. Celebrated D’Oyly Carte baritone Richard Stuart, accompanied by pianist Bryan Evans, entertained the Princess Royal and invited guests with a specially written, hilarious rendition of Ko-Ko’s “I’ve Got a Little List” from Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado.
HRH The Princess Royal spent time at Eyot House reviewing the restoration progress to date, studying the plans for the future, and admiring the Gilbert & Sullivan memorabilia throughout the mansion, including posters, costumes, musical scores and lyrics, object d’art, and other souvenirs. She planted a cedar tree in the Eyot House gardens to symbolise the rebirth of D’Oyly Carte Island.
The Princess Royal fondly recalled her personal connection to Gilbert & Sullivan, noting that she performed in Gilbert & Sullivan’s first operetta, Trial by Jury, as a school girl. Her brother, King Charles, was the Pirate King in a student production of Pirates of Penzance, long before his solemn coronation in Westminster Abby.
In 2024 the local mayor unveiled a Blue Plaque to commemorate the life of Helen D’Oyly Carte a visionary, pioneering entrepreneur, superbly documented in the book “The Queen of the Savoy”. Whilst at the island, HRH unveiled a brass plaque alongside the blue plaque to commemorate the visit of HRH The Princess Royal.
Sheila Hill commented: “It was a privilege and honour to welcome HRH to D’Oyly Carte Island to join us in thanking all of the people that have contributed to bring this island and house back to life. With HRH as the first signature in the visitors book, the planting of a new cedar tree by HRH to replace the one planted by Kew Gardens 130 years ago, and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to record the visit by HRH will all be reminders to Andy, me, and all our guests, to double up on our efforts to restore this magical island and we would be delighted to welcome HRH back to review our progress and enjoy another updated version of “A Little List.”
For further information, please see:
https://www.doylycarteisland.com/hrh-princess-royal-visit
https://www.doylycarte.org.uk/blog/hrh-princess-anne-visits-doyly-carte-island
