THE Duke of Edinburgh has visited the Port of Dover, confessing that when he first passed through the port he really did not remember much about it, because he was only one year old.

His confession came as he addressed a packed Cruise Terminal 1, where port workers, their bosses, and civic dignitaries had convened, marking the 400th anniversary of the port on Friday.

It was in October 1606 that the Dover Harbour Board was established by royal charter, under King James 1, to maintain, administer and improve the harbour.

Thanking everyone for welcoming him, Prince Phillip added: "I was a product of a time before cheap mass air travel came in, and the only way to travel throughout Europe was by sea."

He joked: "When I first came through the port at one year old - that was 84 years ago. I am nearly half way to half the age of the port’s charter!"

Visits to the port that he did recall, included travelling through Dover during the war and in 1958 when he and the Queen disembarked from the now defunct Royal Yacht Britannia, on an official visit.

His visit included a tour of port control, where ship movements are co-ordinated, and terminal control, where shore-side operations are managed. He then met civic dignitaries, senior harbour board workers and port workers and their families. He also signed a copy of a book, marking the port's 400 years of history and unveiled a commemorative plaque.

It was only last year that the Queen visited Dover, but as 2006 is such a special year in the port's development, harbour board officials wrote to Buckingham Palace, asking if a member of the Royal Family would be willing to visit.

Robin Dodridge, Port of Dover director of operations said: "This has been a great day for the port and the area. Who would have thought Prince Phillip would visit, just a year after the Queen?

"It has been a great honour, especially as he is so well-known for his naval and maritime connections."

Prince Phillip was presented with a brass plaque, engraved with a segment of the port's original 1606 charter, as a thank you gift.