WHEN the Queen’s sister visited Swindon 48 years ago tomorrow, the Adver followed her every move.

We said: “Making her third official visit in 11 years, Princess Margaret was welcomed back to Swindon today.

“A packed four hour programme of engagements and presentations awaited her as she stepped off the Paddington train at Swindon Station just before 10.30pm.”

In those days a visit by even a less than top ranking member of the Royal Family merited a full turnout by local dignitaries and blanket media coverage.

“Waiting on the platform to greet her,” we said, “was a Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Ald Sir Henry Langton.

“He then presented her to the Mayor of Swindon, Ald AJ Bown, the Town Clerk, Mr David Murray John and the Chief Constable of Wiltshire, Mr George Glendinning.

“There was a brief formal welcome by the Mayor and then the Princess, attended by a lady in waiting, Lady Juliet Smith, was escorted through the station and out to the forecourt, where a motorcade bound for the Civic Offices was waiting.”

The Princess was in Swindon to perform two official duties. One was to open a new Girls’ Friendly Society hostel, Townsend House, in Bath Road.

The society, which still flourishes, helps girls and young women to build their confidence and self-esteem.

Townsend House would have a variety of uses before falling into disuse in the mid-2000s. Last year plans were announced to turn it into affordable accommodation for key public sector workers.

Princess Margaret’s other duty that day in 1968 was the opening of Legge House in Wroughton, a youth residential centre which remains open to this day.

Before setting out to Old Town and Wroughton, the Princess was guest of honour at an official luncheon in the Civic Offices.

The Mayor told her: “This is the third time within recent years that you have seen fit to honour us with your presence and we, for our part, would like to feel that you are as pleased to visit Swindon as we are happy to have you with us.”

In spite of rain, crowds gathered at every stopping point during the visit as well as along many of the roads taken by the motorcade.

The first of the Princess’s earlier visits had been in 1957, when she laid the foundation stone of the hospital which bore her name. The second was in 1966 when it officially opened.

Princess Margaret died in 2002.