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County local studies librarian Mike Marshman shows Princess Anne some of the maps, prints and photographs held by the history centre.

A ROYAL visitor was back in Wiltshire on Friday, just two weeks after her last visit to the county.

Princess Anne was the guest of honour at the ceremony to open the new state-of-the-art Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.

The Princess Royal was in Wiltshire just a fortnight ago, when she opened 16 new affordable homes in Chilmark.

Princess Anne was given a tour of the new history centre building by Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire County Council, Rod Bluh, leader of Swindon Borough Council, and Tom Craig, heritage services manager at the county council.

The visit comes as The National Archives announced this week that the centre has been formally approved and appointed as a place for public records.

More than 10,000 people have visited the centre since it opened to the public at the end of October in 2007.

Cllr Scott said: "I am delighted The Princess Royal has officially opened the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre.

"This ceremony gave us an opportunity to celebrate the key role the centre is playing in helping thousands of people to trace their family trees and learn more about local history."

9:38am Monday 12th May 2008

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