SCHOOLCHILDREN - at one school in particular - have played a huge part in Royal visits to Taunton over the years.
The Princess Margaret School, in Middleway, was opened in 1966 by the Royal who gave it its name.
Costing £266,000, the Dr Barnardo's school catered for disabled youngsters, and included a swimming pool and state-of-the-art facilities.
READ MORE: More stories on the Royals in Somerset
At the official opening, on July 29 1966, an impromptu ceremony at the poolside saw the Princess pour a tumbler of water into the 6,000-gallon pool, joking that she would happily do it 'as long as you don't push me in'.
She expressed her pleasure at opening the school 'which is to bear my name' and spent an extra 30 minutes touring the facilities, she was so impressed.
She was presented with a posy by 10-year-old Garry Mannerings, son of the resident caretaker, and assisted by nine-year-old Robert Bourne, son of headmaster Mr FW Bourne.
Her posy consisted of white roses, white freesias and lily-of-the-valley.
Moving on from the school, the Princess also opened the Blagdon Lodge care home, built by the Taunton Old People's Housing Society at a slightly more modest cost, of £20,000.
There, she was greeted by six-year-old Victoria Steel, daughter of Mr and Mrs KJ Steel, of Kingston St Mary, members of the Lodge Appeal Committee.
But rather than the Princess' yellow coat catching her eye, young Victoria was impressed by something else altogether, promptly running back to her mother saying the Princess 'has a most lovely lipstick'.
The visits took place after lunch, of course.
Taunton's Royal visitor arrived by train before making her way to The County Hotel, where she was hosted by the town council for the meal.
On the menu was smoked salmon with potted shrimps; Noisette of lamb foristiere; Duchess potatoes, parsley potatoes, peas, cauliflower Mornay; fresh peach Melba, or cheese; coffee, with petits fours.
The Princess Margaret School closed in 1996.
Today, the site in Middleway, is home to a housing development as well as the Blagdon Village retirement community, which incorporates a building named Blagdon Lodge.
RECEPTION: Princess Margaret receives a posy from Garry Mannerings in 1966
SMILES: Young Victoria Steel was impressed by Princess Margaret's lipstick
SPLASHING FACILITIES: Princess Margaret pours water into the new pool
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