The Earl and Countess of Wessex paid a visit to the University of Brighton Sports Centre, where Active Sussex is based, on a tour of sports facilities in the area earlier this month.
The royal couple, representing Her Majesty the Queen as part of the Diamond Jubilee tour, stopped briefly to ask staff members from Active Sussex and Sport Brighton about their work before watching a Powerchair football competition hosted by Brighon and Hove Albion Football Club's community division.
Edward, the Queen's youngest son, and his wife Sophie were in the area to learn more about Brighton & Hove Albion FC's community arm, Albion in the Community. They had previously taken a tour of the neighbouring AMEX stadium and met with American Express volunteers, accompanied by Albion's honourary president Dick Knight.
Jack Wilkinson, a trustee of both Active Sussex and Albion in the Community, said: "Edward and Sophie questioned us closely about how the work was funded. Their knowledge of community sport was at trustee level and above. As patron of SAFC, Sunderland FC's community wing, Sophie was particularly well informed about issues surrounding community sports provision in the context of a professional football team."
Wilkinson said the visit was an excellent opportunity to promote community sport in the region. "A royal visit is always a great way to increase confidence in a particular sector. I am sure the couple will go away with a positive image of community sport in Sussex. They will have seen the way that Albion in the Community works effectively with the wider sporting community, including the universities and the county sports partnership, to maximise opportunity and access for all."
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