A NEWLY opened Basingstoke business was given the royal seal of approval when Princess Anne visited the facility today.

Her Royal Highness was the guest of honour at CGC Technology, based in Chineham Business Park after the business had received the Queen’s Award for International Trade.

During the visit, the Princess Royal was given a tour of the new facility – which opened its doors on Monday, 11 December.

She was led around the facility, which provides all aspects and technologies required for efficient and cost-effective satellite communications, by company CEO Dr Mark Gardener and met with engineers, designers and buyers to learn more about what their role is.

Engaging with staff, Her Royal Highness asked how they were settling into the new facility and said she was impressed with how operational everything was in just four days.

At the end of the tour a plaque was unveiled by Princess Anne, but not before she reminisced about driving past Basingstoke saying that the landscape is “unrecognisable” with the town becoming a hub for firms like CGC.

She also joked that the original invite to visit the facility was for a different site as CGC were not sure where their new base would be.

CEO Dr Gardener said: “It was such a pleasure to have Her Royal Highness Princess Anne come to the facility, she is really engaged with what we do and has a great understanding of our business.

“It was an opportunity not just for us to showcase what we do, but for our clients as well.”

Along with meeting staff at the facility, Princess Anne was welcomed to the town by mayor and mayoress of Basingstoke and Deane, councillors Paul and Jane Frankum, as well as Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller, who said: “It is fantastic to have a member of the royal family visit Basingstoke.”