The Duke of Gloucester is to officially open the Kent Marine Festival at Dover Cruise Port today.

The Duke, grandson of King George V and a first cousin to the Queen, will be welcomed by Bob Goldfield, chief executive of the Port of Dover, during the morning and is expected to tour the almost 70-strong exhibition stands.

Admiral the Lord Boyce, Lord Warden and Admiral of the Cinque Ports, will also be attending.

The event, aimed at raising awareness of opportunities in the marine sector, will host thousands of young people from Kent schools and colleges who will work with employers for a day of hands-on activity, seeing a vast array of skills and training available for a successful career.

Attendance is by invitation only from 9.30am until 3pm, and from 4pm the doors are open to the public until 7pm.

Executive director Anne McNulty described it as "an innovative and specialised event" that would spark an interest and zest for the marine sector.

"It will inspire a drive towards further education and ultimately part of a new generation of maritime specialists employed in the UK.

"The maritime industry leads to such exciting and diverse areas of employment for young people. It is very important they have the chance to fully understand the potentially local, regional and global market."