Princess Anne laid flowers at the graves of two Worcester Regiment soldiers at the British Royal Navy Cemetery at Ireland Island yesterday morning.

During her weekend visit to Bermuda, the Princess Royal stopped at the West End cemetery to meet some of those responsible for the upkeep of the site and to view the 73 Commonwealth war graves.

As Colonel-in-Chief of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, she laid wreaths at the gravesides of Private John Elton and Vice Admiral Sir Trevylyan Napier who died in the early part of the last century.

Bermuda Regiment soldiers Corporal Kendricks Zuill and Corp. Craig Outerbridge presented the wreaths to the Princess before she placed them at the gravesides.

The Princess spoke with war graves? mason Gladwin Darrell. He said: ?She was a nice person and it was a pleasure to be part of this.?

Also presented to the Princess Royal were West End Development Company?s general manager Lloyd Telford and property manager Carmen Harvey, president of the Bermuda National Trust Stephen Conway and Andrew Bermingham, the custodian of Bermuda?s war graves.

Later Princess Anne read part of the service at St. Anne?s Church in Southampton, before taking lunch on board the US Coast Guard Cutter , docked on Front Street.

The special luncheon was arranged by US Consul General Gregory Slayton, who said: ?We thought bringing along the tall ship was an appropriate way to greet the Princess and enhance the ties between the US, Bermuda and the UK.?

On Saturday, young horse riders and a Paralympian participant impressed the Princess at a special display for the royal visitor.

Students from the Bermuda Riding School for the Disabled performed equestrian exercises in scorching temperatures at their centre on Windreach Lane, Warwick.

The Princess Royal arrived with Governor Sir John Vereker and sat among local families to watch the performance.

Nine youngsters took part including Rowan Border, 13, from Saltus Grammar School, who is tipped to take part in the 2012 Paralympics.

Horseman Sandy Mitchell, 62, the founder of WindReach Recreational Village and a competitor in the last two Paralympics, completed the show with a display to a song by Peter Yarrow, entitled ?Don?t Laugh at Me?.

The Princess handed out commemorative ribbons and chatted to the children who had ridden, as well as centre volunteers.

It was the second time the Queen?s only daughter had visited the school ? she was there in October 1999 to mark its 25th anniversary.

Centre manager Moyra Benbow said: ?Last time she came we just had the worst Bermuda weather you could have. It poured with rain. But she?s so easy because she?s a rider. She?s a pleasure to talk to.?

Youngsters declared themselves delighted to have performed for and met the Princess. Rowan said: ?It was fun. She asked me how often I rode.? Jessica Lewis, 13, from Bermuda High School, said: ?I just loved it. She said I was riding really well.?

Kelsie Simas, 13, from the Learning Express Academy, said: ?It felt good. I wasn?t nervous.? Michael Collins, president of the riding school, said: ?It was fantastic for the children. They?ll never forget today.?

The other children taking part were: Jonathon Symonds, eight, from West Pembroke School; Azendee Maybury, seven, from Northlands Primary School; Solay Thomas, nine, from West Pembroke School; Jared Rego, nine, from Southampton Glebe School; Stephen Davis, seven, from West End Primary and Alicia Astwood, ten, from Gilbert Institute.

The Princess Royal was due to depart the Island last night at the end of her three-day visit.

n Bermuda Riding School for the Disabled is in need of more volunteers. Anyone interested should email brdibl.bm or call 238-7433.