PRINCESS ANNE was in Liverpool yesterday to officially launch a new museum and gallery on the University of Liverpool campus.

It was the only Merseyside engagement of the day for the Princess Royal, who said she had been “delighted” to be invited to the new centre and she wished it to “have a very good year when it opens”.

The Victoria Gallery and Museum will open to the public on June 30 and show exhibitions and displays from the university’s vast collections that are usually unseen by the public.

Before unveiling a commemorative plaque, the Princess said: “The university has contributed an enormous amount over its lifetime, and its hidden treasures have been hidden for perhaps a little too long.”

Established in 1892, the Victoria Building, off Brownlow Hill, has been restored as part of a £8.6m project funded by the university and its patrons.

The University of Liverpool’s Chancellor, Dr David Owen, yesterday introduced the Princess Royal as “no stranger to the university”, and said the event was an opportunity to thank her for work supporting its School of Tropical Medicine, of which she is patron.

“Her commitment and knowledge has been a great help to that institute,” he said.

“It is now our task to give this building back to the people of Liverpool.”

Vice-chancellor Drummond Bone said: “I’m very suspicious of the modern usage of the term iconic, as in an iconic building, but I think it is appropriate, as it was this building which actually gave the name ‘red brick’ to red brick universities.

“We like to think this building is the university’s major contribution to the city in Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture.”

The first floor will contain the university’s art collections including early English watercolours, ceramics, fine art and furniture.

The Tate Hall, on the second floor, will include natural history artefacts and paintings by Joseph Wright of Derby and Turner, as well as work by Lucian Freud

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