THE Duke of Edinburgh is due to visit Dover on Friday (February 17) as part of the Harbour Board’s 400th anniversary.

Although most of his time will be spent within the port confines, members of the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club – of which he is patron – are hoping that he will drive past the club as he travels along the seafront from the Eastern Docks to the cruise terminal, at about 11am.

Prince Philip will meet more than 100 staff and go behind the scenes to see how the world’s busiest ferry port operates.

Arriving at the Eastern Docks, he will be welcomed by Harbour Board chairman Robert Dibble and chief executive Bob Goldfield at Port Control.

He will then move on to Terminal Control to see how shore-side operations are orchestrated.

The Duke of Edinburgh is due to visit the Western Docks where he will meet staff representing a cross-section of the port’s workforce.

He will unveil a plaque commemorating his visit and sign a copy of a book commissioned by Dover Harbour Board to record the port’s royal connections and development over the past 400 years. The visit is due to last one-and-a-half hours.

Among those who will meet Prince Philip are chairman of Dover District Council Cllr Pat Heath, and chief executive Nadeem Aziz, MP Gwyn Prosser and Mayor Cllr Ken Tranter.

The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Admiral The Lord Boyce GCB OBE DL, and the Deputy Constable of Dover Castle, Brigadier James Plastow, will also be introduced to him.