The Queen’s last visit to Canterbury came in 2015, however, her presence will forever be etched in the city’s history.

The late monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh enjoy a private lunch, followed by a service, before revealing a pair of stone statues next to the Cathedral’s Great West Door.

Hundreds turned out to line the streets in Burgate and in the Buttermarket as they tried to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty.

Both the Queen and Prince Philip met some of the stonemasons, as well as the statue architect and staff from the Cathedral and the King’s School.

Conversations were said to be “jolly” and when Her Majestsy met a caretaker who told her he had set out the chairs, she quipped: “Did you lay out every one?”

Meanwhile, headmaster of the King’s School, Peter Roberts, jokingly asked for a new royal holiday for students after their exams.

The royal couple arrived following an event at Capel-le-Ferne.

The statues were unveiled outside the Cathedral’s Great West Door. The statues stand opposite figures of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria.

The service was not attended by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby who was in Leicester leading prayers during the much-delayed funeral of another monarch, King Richard III.

Instead, it was led by the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, the Very Reverend Dr Robert Willis.

Mr Willis talked about the vision of previous deans who added figures from history to the Cathedral’s Great West Door. He said: “When people say this Cathedral is the history of Britain carved in stone, we can see it.

“Today, we contribute to the history of this place.”

He remarked on how “curious” it was the architects of the Victoria and Albert statues left two blank plinths, which stood empty for 150 years.