Dorset Police’s new headquarters at Winfrith was officially opened by the Princess Royal, who then travelled on to visit the RAC Saddle Club at Bovington in Dorset.
The royal visit to South Dorset took place on the afternoon of Monday 6th October 2025, on a dry and sunny day in stark contrast to her visit to Swanage in July 2021 when she was met with torrential rain.
The Princess Royal unveils the commemorative plaque and apologises for being unable to visit earlier in the year
Unveiled a plaque
The Princess Royal had spent the morning in Lyme Regis in East Dorset at a boat building academy, before travelling by helicopter to Winfrith to unveil a plaque to mark the completion of the new Dorset Police HQ.
She toured the three-storey building along with the new memorial garden and met local dignitaries and the teams responsible for delivering the building.
The Princess Royal also spoke with officers, staff and volunteers and individuals from a range of teams and departments.
Dorset Police chief constable Amanda Pearson (left) greets the Princess Royal (right)
“Our new flagship building”
Dorset Police chief constable Amanda Pearson said:
“It was an honour to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Dorset Police Headquarters for the official opening of our new flagship building.
“This was an important historical moment for the force, and I was delighted to be able to introduce her to the fantastic team who made it happen, alongside our hardworking officers, staff and volunteers.
“It’s of the utmost importance that our officers, staff and volunteers have a working environment that supports them with their contribution to keeping people safe. Our former HQ building had served us well for 60 years but had well and truly outlived its original temporary purpose.”
The Princess Royal outside the new high tech building built by Willmott Dixon’s Construction, with chief constable Amanda Pearson and Dorset’s police and crime commissioner David Sidwick
“Value for money and long-term savings”
The new modern building replaced the original 1950s building which Dorset Police claimed wasn’t fit for purpose. Building work started in 2022 and was completed by 2024.
Amanda Pearson added:
“We are proud of our new headquarters, which will provide value for money and long-term savings enabling us to invest in frontline policing to tackle the things that matter most to our communities.
“Sustainability was at the forefront of its design – we now generate an amount of our own electricity by the use of solar panels and our water usage is much reduced.”
The Princess Royal was able to end her trip to Dorset with a visit to a stables
Tour of the RAC Saddle Club
Once the formalities were over at the Dorset Police HQ and the commemorative plaque unveiled, the Princess Royal was then able to indulge in one of her major passions by visiting the nearby RAC Saddle Club at Bovington.
The club is a British Horse Society approved training, riding, assessment centre, livery yard and eventing venue, which works to help the mental and physical rehabilitation of members of the armed forces and others in the local community.
As vice patron of the British Horse Society, the Princess Royal was given a guided tour of the stables by the yard manager Stephanie Buchanan, who is also an eventing organiser, pony club examiner and coach.
Yard manager Stephanie Buchanan (right) toured the stables with the Princess Royal (left) and CEO of the British Horse Society James Hick (middle)
Actor Martin Clunes (left) is introduced to the Princess Royal
Martin Clunes welcomed the Princess Royal
Actor Martin Clunes who lives in Beaminster in Dorset and is the president of the British Horse Society, was also in Bovington to greet the royal visitor.
While at the RAC Saddle Club, the Princess Royal took the opportunity to take a tour of the #Willdoes bus which provides mental health and wellbeing support for young people.
The Swanage-based charity #Willdoes was set up by Stephanie Buchanan’s sister Lesley in memory of her 14 year son William.
Actor Martin Clunes (left) waits outside, while the Pricess Royal tours the #Willdoes bus
Further information
- More about the RAC Saddle Club and the British Horse Society
- The charity #Willdoes
