The Princess Royal was a guest at Dorchester Abbey for a Christmas evening of readings, music, songs and carols in aid of a charity which helps people with learning disabilities.

Princess Anne has been the patron of the Home Farm Trust, which has a residential and training centre at Milton Heights, near Didcot, for the past 25 years. At a reception after the concert, the Princess told trust president Richard Barber that she was pleased to accept an invitation to continue as patron.

The concert centred on sacred music sung by Oxford University's New College choir, with readings of poetry and prose by actor and Robert Hardy and actress Imogen Stubbs.

The £20-a-head event was attended by more than 500 people. Thursday night's concert was also a special occasion for the Abbey, as the organ made its debut after a £100,000 restoration, played by New College assistant organist Steven Grahl.

Abbey rector Sue Booyes said: "It was a truly wonderful evening, a very moving occasion and a wonderful start to the Christmas celebrations. The organ sounded so good accompanying the choir."

The visit by the Princess was her third in five years. Her first coincided with work starting on a £4m restoration programme for the abbey.

She was back to check on progress two years ago, and this time was given a tour of the building before the start of the concert.

She was greeted on her arrival by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Hugo Brunner and the Bishop of Dorchester the Rt Rev Colin Fletcher, who gave a blessing at the end of the evening.

Gillian Benford, a resident at the Milton Heights centre, presented the Princess with a posy before the concert. Among the guests was Moira Cox, from Drayton, near Abingdon, who has been a support worker at Milton for 18 years.

She helped serve mulled wine made at Milton and mince pies from the Sugar and Spice bakery, in Ardington, where one of the Milton residents works. Mrs Cox said: "It was a marvellous evening and just the right start for Christmas.

"It was a very moving night of music and readings in a candle-lit setting in the beautifully restored Abbey. I was very pleased to learn afterwards that Princess Anne had agreed to continue as patron. Over the years she has been a very committed and passionate patron."