The princess, who has visited the college on a number of previous occasions, will attend an opening event on Monday October 27. She will take a tour of the college’s equestrian facilities and new-look campus with college principal, Jeanette Dawson, and attend a celebratory lunch.

It is also hoped that the princess will unveil a plaque to mark the official opening of the college’s new £4.5m learning resource centre.

The three-storey centre houses a library, e-learning facilities, quiet study areas, wireless networking and flexible teaching spaces.

Mrs Dawson is delighted the Princess Royal has agreed to open the arena, which forms part of the college’s £25m redevelopment scheme.

“This is fantastic news for the college and a great way of launching such special facilities,” she said.

“Earlier in the year, we received confirmation that we had been approved as an equestrian training base for the 2012 Olympics and that the college now appears in the London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.

“The indoor arena was, and is, at the core of that bid and will provide equestrian teams, clients and students with some of the best facilities in the country.

“Confirmation that the Princess Royal has agreed to come and open the arena really is the icing on the cake.”