Princess Kate Delights Elderly Minibus Passengers While Volunteering Alongside Community Helpers

The Princess of Wales delighted elderly passengers in Sussex this morning when she joined a volunteer-led community transport service.

Catherine travelled to the picturesque village of Pulborough to meet the West Sussex Minibus team, whose service provides a crucial lifeline to people facing isolation, mobility difficulties or financial hardship that makes accessing public transport challenging.

Her first surprise visit was to Stella Drewett, 94, at her immaculate bungalow. Catherine then helped her board the minibus before accompanying her on a short trip to collect other passengers.

The journey ended at Pulborough Village Hall, home to a weekly lunch club that offers local residents a friendly place to enjoy activities, conversation and company.

Guests were stunned when the future queen joined them at each table, snacking on crisps and chatting warmly. She also revealed that she and the Prince of Wales make a “good double act” when it comes to washing up.

West Sussex Minibus, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, is run entirely by volunteers and serves people living in rural communities across the county.

The organisation was created in response to the decline of local public transport, helping older residents preserve their independence, social connections and quality of life.

From its beginnings with a single minibus, the service has expanded to a fleet of 11 vehicles operating from eight village hubs, with support from 284 volunteers.

Each year, the fleet covers approximately 60,000 miles and carries out 13,000 passenger journeys.

Wearing elegant grey trousers, a blouse and a matching overcoat, with her hair tied back in a ponytail, the princess stepped from the bus in vertiginous heels onto the driveway of former school cook Mrs Drewett.

Catherine waited courteously outside until Mrs Drewett invited her in. The 94-year-old insisted on making her own way out, telling the princess: “I like to do these things myself.”

“I bet you do!” Catherine replied. “I’ll follow you.”

The royal helped Mrs Drewett up the steps and onto the minibus, explaining that she was joining the lunch club “because I want to see what it’s all about”.

Catherine sat beside her during the journey and joked that she was always forgetting her handbag.

“Everyone always runs after me [shouting], ‘you forgot your handbag’.”

As she encouraged Mrs Drewett to fasten her seatbelt, the princess added: “I have to remind my children to put their seatbelts on too.”

At the village hall she chatted to the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and volunteers outside, telling Alex Dolby and Pippa Reid: ‘I can see how much this means to them.’

Inside she first sat down a table with lively Lynda Jones, 75, who had her in fits of giggles. She told her: ‘I love washing up. I really do.’

‘Oh good, a volunteer,’ joked another guest.

Asked whether her husband helped, Catherine said: ‘He does the drying. We are a good double act. And we get the children involved.’

Examining the food on the table, the princess noted there was a bowl of crisps.

‘I bet you never eat crisps,’ Lynda teased her.

‘I do. I love salted,’ Catherine said, and took one to prove her point, gently nibbling on it as they chatted.

‘Is this a good way to make friendships? You seem to have a really wonderful community here,’ she said.

‘So many people feel isolated and cut off in their communities, it’s wonderful there are these places to come. You must all love coming together on your Wednesdays. A few crisps here and there!’

Lynda said afterwards: ‘Very natural, very beautiful. She looked at the crisps, so I let her have one. She said these are the ones she buys when she goes shopping…the salted ones.

‘She was lovely, very natural. I wouldn’t want to meet the other thing, shhhhhh!’ she added cheekily, perhaps in reference to other royals with Sussex links.

‘This is lovely. If you’ve got nothing at home you can book them, they will bring a minibus to your door and take your home. It gets you out, otherwise you would go mad.

‘It’s soup by royal appointment today! I didn’t think she would sit down by me. She so natural, she isn’t made up.’

Sarah Broadhurst, 87, stopped by to thank the princess for coming to Pulborough, and Catherine held her hands as they chatted.

‘I think it’s amazing she has come to our little place. It can be isolating so it lovely to have a royal visit,’ she said.

The princess also spoke to Clare Atkinson and Lynn Richards from the Pulborough District Community Care Association about the activities they put on for the lunch club guests.

‘She is so easy to talk to and we spoke about the benefits for health and mental wellbeing that things like this bring,’ said Clare.

Marian Graves, 84, added: ‘This village really is very special. And she really understood that.’

Outside the village hall a small crowd had gathered after word spread about the Princess’ visit, which had been kept secret in advance.

Amanda Ridley. 37, was FaceTiming her poorly mother, Sandra Berry, and twin sister, Sam Berry, and asked Catherine if she ‘would mind saying hello to them’.

‘I’m so sorry, I’ve just got my phone in your face. There’s my mum and my sister,’ she said, holding up her phone.

The princess smiled broadly and waved. ‘Hello! What are your names? Oh no, I’m sorry you are not feeling well. Poor you. Have you got someone looking after you?’

She also said hello to her daughter Paloma, five, who was also unwell. ‘Are you missing school today?’ she asked her sympathetically, running her head. ‘I hope you get better soon. Have lots of sleep.’

Ms Ridley told her: ‘Thank you so much.’

She said afterwards: ‘I really admire her and the way she has conducted herself given what she has been through. We are very lucky to have her. ‘

Another well-wisher told the princess: ‘You do such a fabulous job. You are such a role model. It’s a hard role to navigate and do justice to. You have such poise. ‘

She also stopped to speak to Thea Botley, 25, with her sons Alfie, one, and Arthur three.

Catherine immediately hunkered down on her heels to say hello and helped Albie jump off the kerb, holding his hands.

‘What’s your name? Hi. Hi Albie. Look at your cool boots. Jump? Well done. One more? Well done.’

‘Sorry I’ve started something,’ she laughed as Albie continued to jump as she walked off.

Thea said afterwards: ‘I’m so surprised he warmed to her and held hands as he can be shy with strangers. She was amazing.’

The princess also said hello to Beatrix, three, and stroked the ears of cocker spaniel Jack, also three, as she chatted.

Catherine, who has two cocker spaniels herself, asked her: ‘Is he cheeky? Does he steal your food. Whenever there is cereal on the floor our doggies always eat the cereal!’

According to royal officials, the princess is keen to highlight the role that community transport plays in bringing people together, reducing isolation and enabling the everyday acts of kindness that make volunteers the unsung heroes of many communities.