Princess Anne visited Hillmorton High School in 1989 to open the refurbished Library and plant a tree.

On that day Her Royal Highness was joined in the Library by the History class and made a joke about Stalin. Some of the current class took a photo at her tree and a 1989 Magazine article to try and give to her. 

The Year 13 History class ventured into the city to attend the unveiling of the re-established Citizens War Memorial. The class was hoping to meet her and give her a memento. Her Royal Highness Princess Anne was attending, accompanied by her husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. 

Princess Anne was unveiling the plaque and laying the first wreath down on the memorial. Her Royal Highness is the Colonel in Chief of the New Zealand Army’s Royal New Zealand Corp of Signals. The ceremony included a blessing of the statue conducted by The Bishop of Te Wai Pounamu, followed by The Last Post and a minute's silence, and The Ode to the Fallen was spoken in both English and Te Reo Maori, the Bishop of Christchurch concluded the ceremony with a prayer. Sir Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford was in attendance too with the Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserve and 2/4 Battalion RNZIR. The Princess’s visit to Christchurch was a fantastic experience and opportunity for the class.

Alas, they did not get to meet Princess Anne to give her the package. Since then, they have written her a letter and sent it to her in England. 

However, the class was very happy to have an in depth conversation with the Christchurch Wizard and get a photo with Sir Buck Shelford.