Princess Royal is named the new patron of Edinburgh Zoo

THE Princess Royal is the new Royal Patron for Edinburgh Zoo.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), the charity that owns the zoo, made the announcement a week after beginning its centenary celebrations.

The Princess Royal has visited the zoo on several occasions, most recently in March 2008 to open Budongo Trail, the specialised enclosure for chimpanzees.

John Spence, President of RZSS, said: "The Princess Royal is a great friend of our organisation and understands our aim to weave the experience and education of our visitors with our goals of conservation and research."

The zoo was granted the Royal Charter in 1913 and remains the only zoo in the UK to have achieved this.