A VISIT by the Princess Royal to Giggleswick School, which had taken around four years to plan, had to be cancelled due to bad weather.

Princess Anne, who was travelling by helicopter, was due to arrive at the school on Wednesday morning and attend a service to commemorate the centenary of Giggleswick Chapel.

However, after an hour circling around the area, the helicopter turned back as it could not land because of the bad conditions and low cloud.

One of the royal co-ordinators said unsuccessful attempts had also been made to touch down in Bentham.

He added that Princess Anne had wanted every option to be considered as she had not wanted to let down the pupils.

Deputy headteacher Brian Christian, speaking after the visit had been cancelled, said: "It's extremely disappointing but in the circumstances, given the weather this morning, we always thought there might be a possibility.

"It's very disappointing for the pupils and those who really wanted to meet her, such as four-year-old Lizzie Wheeler, who didn't get the chance to present the princess with her posy."

Lizzie is the youngest child to attend the school, and was just one of the pupils who had been looking forward to catching a glimpse of the special visitor.

Mr Christian added the royal visit had been three to four years in the planning and it could not be re-arranged at short notice, although the school would obviously be delighted to see the princess at any time in the future.

She had been due to join in the celebrations to mark the chapel's centenary by attending a short service in the chapel before meeting some of the craftsmen and women who have recently completed a full refurbishment of this well-known Yorkshire landmark.

The chapel was a gift from Walter Morrison of Malham to the school to commemorate Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.

Leading architect TG Jackson was employed and work started in 1897 with the chapel being completed four years later in 1901.

Its entire restoration has been phased over five years with £760,000 being spent, funded by the Chapel Centenary Appeal, with grants from the European Union and English Heritage and income from the Sharpe Bequest.

Princess Anne was to have been given the opportunity to look around the newly restored chapel before being escorted by the head of school Jack Hird to the Sharpe Library where she was due to meet pupils, staff and governors before leaving at about 11am.

The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne, and Lady Crathorne took over the Princess' responsibilities on hearing the news.