Princess of Wales takes a journey on West Sussex volunteer minibus service
Princess Catherine will be meeting the service's volunteers and the passengers who use it.
Last updated 30th Sep 2026
The Princess of Wales is in the county today, visiting a West Sussex minibus service.
West Sussex Minibus is a volunteer-led community transport service, which helps people who cannot easily access public transport due to mobility problems, isolation or financial barriers.
The organisation is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year after starting off as a single volunteer-manned minibus service in 1976. It is now a community transport network operating from eight village hubs, supported by 284 volunteers and a fleet of 11 minibuses. Its fleet travels approximately 60,000 miles each year, providing around 13,000 passenger journeys.
The Princess took a trip on one of the bus's pick-up journeys and helped passengers from their homes into the minibus. She assisted Stella Drewett, 94, putting a hand on her arm as she left her home using a walking frame, and offering a steadying hand as she climbed into the minibus.
When the princess asked about her lunch trips, Ms Drewett quipped that they meant “one day of not cooking”.
The Princess rounded her visit off at Pulborough Village Hall, where the weekly lunch club lets people from across the local area to come together for activities and conversation. Chatting at the table, Kate said: “What a lovely way to make friends” as around 50 people in the hall enjoyed red pepper and sweet potato soup with hunks of bread, cheese and crisps on the side.
Mrs Jones said: “She asked for some crisps, and I let her (have some). She said she liked it, they were ready salted, crinkle cut.”
“Kate was a natural.”