PRINCE Andrew has agreed to become only the second royal patron in the 110-year history of Deal’s Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club.

Confirmation that the Duke of York, a keen golfer who plays off seven handicap, has acc-epted the club’s invitation, was made by the Cinque Ports’ captain Howard Moxon.

Mr Moxon made the announcement before the prize-giving ceremony for the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Cup, in which the Prince competed before performing the trophy presentations.

Mr Moxon said: “We are delighted that the Prince has accepted our invitation to become our patron. I think he feels that, because we are a royal club we should have royal patronage.

The club’s first and only previous royal patron was King George V, who accepted the honorary lifetime position in 1910.