Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), visited British Wool’s South Molton depot today to mark the organisation’s 75th anniversary, celebrating three-quarters of a century championing UK sheep farmers and promoting the value of British wool.

The visit carried special significance as it took place during Her Royal Highness’s own 75th birthday year, bringing together two landmark milestones that honour a shared commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and rural communities.

During the visit, The Princess Royal toured the depot’s grading facilities, met with local farmers, staff, and innovators from across the region, and learned more about how British Wool is driving forward the use of natural, traceable fibres in fashion, furnishings, and beyond.

To commemorate the occasion, Her Royal Highness unveiled a special plaque at the South Molton site, officially marking 75 years of British Wool.

The Princess Royal was also presented with a handcrafted shepherd’s crook by Jim Robertson, Chairman of British Wool, as a symbol of the organisation’s heritage and enduring connection to the UK’s farming community.

Andrew Hogley, CEO of British Wool, said: “It was an enormous honour to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, to our South Molton depot in this milestone year. Her Royal Highness’s lifelong support for British farming and her deep understanding of the UK’s fashion and textile sector made this a truly special day for everyone involved.

British wool has been woven through generations of farmers and makers since 1950, and it continues to play a vital role in sustainable fashion and interiors today. The Princess Royal’s visit is a fitting tribute to an industry that is both proud of its past and optimistic about its future.”

The South Molton depot is one of eight key regional centres operated by British Wool across the UK, collecting and grading fleece from thousands of sheep farmers.

Her Royal Highness’s visit forms part of a wider series of 75th anniversary celebrations held across British Wool’s network of depots this autumn, each event honouring the people, skills, and stories that have shaped the UK’s wool industry for generations.

VISIT THE BRITISH WOOL WEBSITE

British Wool is based in Bradford and is owned by approximately 30,000 sheep farmers in the UK. It collects, grades, sells and promotes British wool to the international wool textile industry for use in flooring, furnishings and apparel.

British Wool is a UKFT member. Click here for more information on the UKFT membership.

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