By Royal appointment

The Princess Royal unveils a plaque to celebrate the 50th anniversary of HSL in Batley, where she signed the visitors’ book (above). Debra Burrows, joint owner of HSL in Batley, presented the Princess Royal with a child’s chair for her grandchildren (below) PHOTOS: Mike Clark THE Princess Royal visited three Kirklees firms, getting up close with some shiny classic cars and sitting comfortably at one of the UK’s leading chair manufacturers.

Princess Anne was in West Yorkshire on Friday for a series of visits.

In the morning she helped Batleybased HSL celebrate its 50th anniversary and toured the firm’s factory on the Grange Road Industrial Estate in Grange Road.

Furniture-maker HSL was founded in Batley in 1968 by the late Jeffrey Burrows.

The visit was hosted by company owners William and Debra Burrows and chief executive officer Guy Critchlow.

The Princess Royal met with several long-standing members of HSL’s Batley team including manufacturing director Kevin Wall, who led the tour of the factory. After looking around the factory, Princess Anne was told of the company’s family heritage in making chairs, sofas and beds for over 100 years.

HSL has expanded and grown over 50 years to now operate 59 stores across the UK, employing 500 people.

Her Royal Highness was also introduced to Julie Jennings, HSL’s independent occupational therapist, who discussed the training she provides to staff to ensure chairs suit the individual needs of customers.

Owner and chairman William Burrows said: “It has been a huge honour for the team and myself to welcome Princess Anne.

“We are all very proud of the hard work and passion that goes into each and every chair, sofa and bed produced here, and so it’s amazing to share this with such an esteemed guest. What a great way to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary.” The visit was especially appropriate given the Princess Royal’s patronage of The Royal College of Occupational Therapists, which received its Royal charter from The Queen in 2017.

Before she left Princess Anne was presented with a special HSL plush toy and personalised child’s chair to give to her grandchildren.

From there Princess Anne headed for Holmfirth where she stopped off at The Carding Shed at Washpit Mills for lunch.

She was given a tour by director Ben Kellett who showed her round the vintage emporium, which includes The Carding Shed cafe, car restoration business IK Classics and High Society, a vintage clothing shop.

The Princess was given a demonstration of two specialist pieces of machinery used for shaping car body panels.