On Tuesday 1st October, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited Viking Arms, a leading supplier of shooting sports equipment to the UK. During the visit, The Princess Royal officially opened Viking Arms’ new warehouse facility, toured the company’s facilities, and met with staff members to learn about their contributions to the UK shooting sports industry.
Welcomed by Managing Director Sam Macarthur and members of the founding family, The Princess Royal began her tour with a presentation about the company’s operations. Viking Arms specialises in supplying, and distributing rifles, shotgun, ammunition, optics and accessories to the UK gun trade which equips gamekeepers, wildlife managers, fieldsports enthusiasts, Olympic shooters and competitive target shooters across the country.
During the tour, Her Royal Highness was shown the company’s new licensed warehouse, equipped for the storage of ammunition and firearms.
Her Royal Highness spoke with Andy Norris, Viking Arms’ Head of Sporting Sales about the role of gamekeeping and wildlife conservation in the UK countryside and in relation to estate management. Her Royal Highness was able to see the latest Leupold rifle scopes and discussed the various calibres and ammunition available to the UK market.
Andy Norris, Head of Sporting Sales;
“It was an honour to host Her Royal Highness. Her deep passion for the countryside, along with her extensive knowledge of wildlife management and conservation, was evident throughout the visit. Her insights reflected her personal experience, making the day truly memorable.”
Throughout the visit, The Princess Royal met staff from various departments, discussing Viking Arms’ dedication to meeting the evolving needs of the UK gun trade.
In addition to officially opening the new warehouse, The Princess Royal presented an award to long-serving employee Janet Dinsdale, in recognition of her 25 years of service. The visit concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.
Managing Director Sam Macarthur expressed her pride in the visit:
“We were deeply honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness to Viking Arms. It was a privilege for the entire Viking family, including our founder Mrs Brown, to share our journey with Princess Anne. The Princess Royal took the time to engage with our team, showing genuine interest in how we support the UK gun trade and remain resolutely committed to providing the highest standards of professional service and gun safety in our work. We are incredibly grateful for her visit.”
