Royal visit to Waterloo

Princess Alexandra and Sir Angus Ogilvy braved the rain on Thursday to join the large congregation in the packed church.

Vicar of St John's Revd Richard Truss welcomed the congregation to the church and thanked all those who had been involved with the planning and construction of the new Waterloo Garden of Remembrance in the churchyard.

Music included a psalm sung by the choir of the nearby London Nautical School and a solo by Glenn Kesby.

In his sermon the Bishop of Kingston, the Rt Revd Peter Price, recalled Princess Alexandra's previous visit to St John's three years ago to celebrate the refurbishment of the building, which was the offical church of the Festival of Britain held on the South Bank in 1951.

At the end of the service the congregation was due to process to the Garden of Remembrance, but the heavy rain continued, so the plaque was brought inside the church for the Princess to unveil.

Other notable figures present at the service included Vauxhall MP and Minister for Sport Kate Hoey.

The Bishop of Kingston and the Mayor of Lambeth await the arrival of the Princess

Vicar of St John's Revd Richard Truss welcomes the Princess

The Bishop of Kingston greets the Princess.

The Princess and the Bishop chat during the reception.

Local MP and Minister for Sport Kate Hoey, and Southwark councillor Hilary Wines.

Sir Angus Ogilvy chats with Cllr Clare Whelan

The Princess unveils the plaque which will be displayed in the Garden of Remembrance.