A royal star who charmed Shropshire crowds

She was a celebrity royal who charmed those she met. Her concern for children was particularly to the fore in high profile engagements in the county in the 1980s.

Everywhere she went there were adoring crowds eager to see this glamorous woman. But here too was somebody who cared.

Her first official visit to Shropshire was on December 11, 1984. Landing by helicopter at RAF Shawbury, which has for years been the royals’ gateway to the county, she made her way to Shrewsbury to see the work of a multi skills youth training centre.

Thousands of shoppers and wellwishers packed into Castle Street hoping to catch a glimpse of her, and were not disappointed as she insisted on going on an impromptu walkabout which put back her schedule by 12 minutes.

At the training centre she turned down an offer of a mince pie from the catering department, but gladly accepted two soft toys made specially as Christmas presents for her sons Prince William and Prince Harry.

Next stop was Condover Hall School for blind and handicapped children. It was described at the time by the school head as “the greatest day in Condover’s history”.

The Princess learnt specially to say “hello” and “thank you” in sign language for the occasion.

During her visit, in her capacity as patron of the National Rubella Council, she unveiled a special “tactile plaque” which allowed children to identify their classroom by touch.

How Di dressed was always a talking point and for this visit, which came on a frosty day, she wore a mauve and black plaid two-piece suit with a black velvet Cossack-style hat and black boots.

Then, on November 2, 1988, it was Telford’s turn. The Princess officially opened the NEC factory at Priorslee, and amid all the televisions and video recorders it produced revealed her own television preferences - she was a fan of EastEnders.

For this visit she was wearing a long black and white checked dress coat with black suede Cossack boots.

It was later at the Thomas Parker School at Brookside, a school for handicapped children, that she was truly in her element, a royal star bringing her own special brand of sunshine to children and staff.

Here she saw a 10 year old boy with no use of his legs hobble on crutches the length of a room in 12 seconds - for him, the equivalent of walking a mile. And as ever, she had time to go walkabout, meeting cheering crowds outside.

Nor, of course, did the Princess of Wales neglect that country. She and her husband were at Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1985 but she was alone three years later when she toured the Laura Ashley Texplan factory in Newtown before travelling to Welshpool for further engagements.

A further Welsh visit came in 1991, to Wrexham.