AN art museum was given the royal seal of approval from Princess Anne.

The Princess Royal visited the acclaimed Behind the Lines: Alfred Munnings, War Artist, 1918 exhibition at the Munnings Art Museum at Castle House in Dedham.

Alfred Munnings bought Castle House in 1919 and it opened as the Munnings Art Museum in the Sixties after his death.

Munnings is best known as one of England’s finest equestrian painters.

However, he was also a renowned war artist and it is these paintings which are the subject of the exhibition.

A former Olympic horse rider and renowned lover of horses, Princess Anne was keen to see the stunning paintings.

After touring the exhibition yesterday with museum director Jenny Hand, the Princess Royal explored the rest of the museum including the art studio, before signing the visitors’ book.

The tour included meeting horse racing journalist, broadcaster and former jockey Brough Scott, whose grandfather

Brigadier-General “Galloper” Jack Seely enjoyed an enduring friendship with Munnings which was forged on the Western Front. His portrait is in the exhibition.

During her visit the Princess Royal met exhibition curators Brenda Parrish and Charles Proudfoot, along with trustees of the museum and three of the 75 volunteer room stewards.

She was accompanied by Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jennifer Tolhurst and met a number of notable guests during her visit including the High Sheriff of Essex, Dr James Bettley, Harwich and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, Essex Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, Essex County Council chairman John Jowers and Colchester mayor Nick Cope.

Museum director Jenny Hand said: “We felt extremely privileged to have the princess royal visit.

“It affirms the museum’s rising profile as a significant centre for the appreciation of the work of Sir Alfred Munnings.”