The Princess Royal has helped celebrate the 200th anniversary of Canterbury Prison.

Accompanied by prison governor Chris Bartlett, she spent most of Tuesday morning meeting the senior management team and members of the prison’s chaplaincy, before touring the facility’s three wings.

Princess Anne spoke candidly and at length with many staff and also met a number of inmates, in their roles as members of the prison’s consultative committee.

Watch the video of the Princess's prison visit>>>

First opened in 1808 as a house of correction for around 50 detainees from the local area, today Canterbury Prison is home solely to foreign nationals awaiting deportation.

Unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion, in front of past and present staff, the Princess said: “Anniversaries are great occasions to reflect not only on what has changed, but also on what hasn’t changed, in terms of prisoners and their basic requirements.

“Now that you have foreign nationals you’re finding you’re having to change on an international scale.”

She added: “Canterbury Prison has held a place for the last 200 years, which I think is quite extraordinary and an atmosphere which I think people recognise is quite unlike anything else.”

Staff were presented with commemorative coins to celebrate the anniversary. Many former prison officers from the last 50 years were there to receive them as well.

Mr Bartlett said: “I’d like to thank all of my colleagues who’ve been planning for this day for nearly a year.

“She was very accommodating, very friendly and everyone who got the opportunity to speak to her was really delighted to have done so.”

It was the third occasion the Princess has visited the prison, coming previously in her role as patron of the offenders rehabilitation charity The Butler Trust.

After leaving the prison she went to Herne Bay to open Windchimes, a centre for disabled children from east Kent.