Royal visit confirmed for Torbay this October as part of Devon engagements

The Princess Royal will visit Torquay’s Wetwheels Torbay at MDL Marina on 15 October 2025, as part of a day of engagements across Devon.

Her Royal Highness is Patron of the Wetwheels Foundation, a charity founded by disabled yachtsman Geoff Holt MBE that provides barrier-free access to the water for disabled and disadvantaged people. Wetwheels’ specially adapted boats are fully wheelchair accessible, including ramps to the steering position and adapted controls, allowing participants to actively take part in steering and seamanship.

The Torbay vessel, delivered in 2024, is the newest in the national fleet and plays a key role in the foundation’s mission to provide 12,000 life-changing experiences on the water every year by 2027. More than 80 per cent of Wetwheels’ participants have never previously been on the open sea, and the charity is working to change that through its inclusive approach.

The Princess Royal’s visit will shine a spotlight on the charity’s work and Torbay’s role in offering barrier-free maritime experiences.

On the same day, she will also attend British Wool’s 75th Anniversary Open Day in South Molton, visit Landworks at Dartington Hall, Totnes, and tour Luminous Showtech in Exeter.