Princess Royal visits gun company

HRH the Princess Royal enjoyed a tour of Yorkshire-based gun and shooting kit distributor Viking Arms. During the visit on Tuesday 1 October 2024, the Princess officially opened Viking Arms’ new warehouse, toured the company’s facilities, and met with staff members to learn about guns and shooting.

Viking chief executive Sam Macarthur (left) and HRH the Princess Royal examine a cannon

Viking’s head of sporting sales Andy Norris was impressed by the princess’s extensive knowledge of wildlife management and conservation. “Her insights reflected her personal experience, making the day truly memorable,” he says.

Viking’s head of sporting sales Andy Norris discusses the merits of a Merkel rifle with the Princess

Welcomed by Viking managing director Sam Macarthur and members of the founding family, the Princess 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. Founded in 1965 by the late Geoffrey Brown, Viking Arms has grown from a small family business into one of the UK’s leading distributors of firearms, ammunition, optics, and accessories. Viking Arms operates in two key divisions: Defence and Sporting. The company is a proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and a recipient of the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme silver award.

The Princess Royal examines the internal workings of a Glock 17 Gen 4 handgun, the standard sidearm used by British armed forces since 2013, with Viking's Rich Fell

During the tour, Her Royal Highness visited the company’s new secure, licensed warehouse, equipped for the storage of ammunition and firearms.

She discussed the role of gamekeeping and wildlife conservation in the UK countryside and in relation to estate management with Andy Norris. She was able to see the latest Leupold rifle scopes and discussed the various calibres and ammunition available to the UK market.

HRH the Princess Royal, here talking to Viking chief executive Sam Macarthur, also met and spoke to staff at the company

In an endorsement for shooting sports and its role in conservation, the Princess Royal met staff from various departments, discussing Viking Arms’ dedication to meeting the evolving needs of the UK gun trade. While there, she presented an award to long-serving employee Janet Dinsdale, in recognition of her 48 years of service. The visit concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

The Princess unveiled a plaque at Viking Arms to commemorate her visit

Sam Macarthur expresses her pride in hosting the visit: “We were deeply honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness to Viking Arms,” she says. “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.”

Andy Norris shows off a Leupold riflescope to the Princess

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