The Princess of Wales helped to pick up elderly minibus users to take them to a weekly lunch club as she celebrated 50 years of the volunteer transport company. Joining the West Sussex Minibus on Wednesday, Catherine’s first stop in picturesque Pulborough was at 94-year-old Stella Drewett’s bungalow.

The princess, wearing grey suit trousers, a pussybow blouse and a wool coat, walked to her front door and said, “Good morning”, before helping her manoeuvre her walking frame along the garden path and into the minibus.

Ms Drewett, a former school cook, said she travels with the West Sussex Minibus for her weekly shopping trip and to the weekly lunch club.

They travelled to Pulborough Village Hall, picking up several more elderly passengers along the way, to join a weekly lunch club that provides a welcoming space for people to come together for activities and conversation.

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.”

West Sussex Minibus, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the service, is entirely volunteer-led and is a lifeline for many people who cannot easily access public transport due to isolation, mobility challenges or financial barriers.

Inside the Village Hall, Catherine joined each of the tables and enjoyed a lively conversation with Lynda Jones, 75, who had her in fits of giggles.

They chatted about crisps and the washing up, with the princess saying her and her husband are “a good double act”, often enlisting the help of their three children.

As she left, the future Queen stopped to speak with a small crowd that had gathered outside as word spread of her visit.

As a member of the Community Transport Association (CTA), the organisation operates on the simple principle that access to transport is fundamental to quality of life.

For many local residents in remote areas of West Sussex, the minibus service is the only reliable link to medical care, daily errands, and meeting up with friends or enjoying social activities.

Elsewhere during the visit, the Princess, who was dressed in an elegant grey pussy bow blouse and long grey coat, spoke with passengers about the impact of community connections on mental health and personal wellbeing. She also spent time with the drivers whose daily commitment keeps the fleet of minibuses moving.

Catherine also heard from the organisation’s volunteers, whose dedication makes the service possible and helps ensure that people can continue to participate in community life.

As the charity celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, it is remembering how it was founded in response to the shrinking availability of rural public transport. Impressively, West Sussex Minibus has grown from a single vehicle into a vital regional network.

Today, the organisation relies on 284 dedicated volunteers to operate a fleet of 11 minibuses across eight village hubs.