HRH Duchess of Gloucester attends the Townsend Church of England 50th Anniversary

On 24th June 2026, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester attended Townsend Church of England Secondary School, St Albans, to celebrate 50 years of the school’s anniversary on the High Oaks site. Her Royal Highness was received by the Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Robert Voss CBE CStJ and the headteacher of Townsend School, Mr Anthony Flack. The visit included a service in the School Chapel which was opened in May 2025. A highlight of the visit was the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by Her Royal Highness. This was particularly significant, as in May 1975, Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, unveiled a similar plaque for the original opening of the school at High Oaks. During the visit HRH met staff, students and governors and was able to hear about the school’s values, achievements and aspirations. The school is guided by its Christian ethos, rooted in the parable of the Good Samaritan, expressed through the values of “loving your neighbour, loving yourself and loving the journey”.