The King is coming to Kent this morning for his first official visit to the county since ascending the throne.
His Majesty is visiting Walmer and Deal, where he will meet lifeboat crews, community champions and representatives of the ancient Cinque Ports as part of a tour focused on service and civic pride.
It comes just months after Queen Camilla visited Canterbury High Street to reveal the bronze figure of pioneering female author Aphra Behn, which has been erected outside The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge.
His Majesty’s last visit to Kent was in February 2022, when, as Prince of Wales, he met apprentices and trainees at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, unveiling a plaque to mark the reopening of the Fitted Rigging House following a multi-million-pound restoration.
Today, he will begin at Walmer Castle, where he will meet dignitaries from the 14 coastal towns that make up the historic Confederation of Cinque Ports. It is also the home of the Lord Warden – a post currently held by Sir George Zambella and the former residence of his beloved grandmother, the Queen Mother, while she held the title.
He will then tour the Captain’s Garden at Deal Castle – a once-neglected site restored by volunteers into a thriving wildlife haven – before heading to Walmer RNLI Lifeboat Station and a beach clean along Deal’s seafront, underlining the King’s continuing commitment to environmental causes.
The Royal Marines Band will also perform during the visit, adding to the sense of celebration in the town.
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