Catherine boards community minibus to ride with elderly to lunch
The Princess of Wales has boarded a community minibus to pick up elderly locals and take them to lunch.
It was an unusual method of transport for Catherine who went door to door, collecting those who live alone to escort them the local village hall.
The Princess of Wales rode a community minibus to escort elderly locals to lunch at a village hall in Pulborough on Wednesday. Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The princess, 44, was seen walking to the front door of 94-year-old Stella Drewett’s home, before helping her into the West Sussex Minibus service.
Catherine lent a guiding hand as Drewett made her way to the van, before she and the others inside buckled up and made their way to the Pulborough village hall for lunch and other activities.
Inside the bus, the princess joked that “everyone always runs after me [shouting] ‘you forgot your handbag’“.
She added: “I have to remind my children to put their seatbelts on too.”
Once at the hall, Catherine was seated next to Lynda Jones, 75, and the two women spoke about household chores.
“I love washing up. I really do,” the princess said.
Prince William, she added, often helped.
“He does the drying. We are a good double act. And we get the children involved.”
The princess walked to the front door of Stella Drewett’s home and escorted her to the minibus. Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The princess was there to highlight the importance of community and social interaction.
Kensington Palace described the West Sussex Minibus, a member of the Community Transport Association, as a “vital lifeline for people who cannot easily access public transport due to isolation, mobility challenges or financial barriers”.
The volunteer-run community transport organisation has been supporting people living in rural West Sussex for 50 years and now has a fleet of 11 minibuses.
Word of the Princess of Wales’ visit quickly spread and outside the hall a crowd had gathered to see her.
Once outside, Catherine spent time speaking to locals and patting a Cocker Spaniel dog similar to her own family’s pets.
Catherine told Lynda Jones that she “love[s] washing up” and said Prince William helped with drying the dishes. Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images
“Is he cheeky? Does he steal your food? Whenever there is cereal on the floor our doggies always eat the cereal,” she said.
The princess also stopped to say hello to one woman, Amanda Ridley, and her mother and sister who had called via FaceTime.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have had a busy calendar of late following the end of their summer break at Balmoral Castle.
Catherine said hello to Amanda Ridley’s mother and sister who had called via FaceTime when word of the princess’ visit spread. Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images
After settling Prince George into high school at Eton College in early September, Prince William and Catherine have hardly been out of the spotlight, keeping the royal family’s show on the road amid other distractions making headlines around the world.
The release of Earl Spencer’s memoir about his sister Diana, the late Princess of Wales, has dominated the news cycle since its publication last week, while the return to Britain by Prince Harry and Meghan, and their children, has also drawn attention worldwide.
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