THE Queen is to open a £20 million scouting centre in a second Jubilee boost for Chatham. She and Prince Philip will visit Buckmore Park on the afternoon of Maundy Thursday, March 28.

The news comes just days after confirmation that the Princess Royal will be guest of honour at Chatham Navy Days on Bank Holiday Monday June 3. Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh will be driven from Canterbury after distributing Maundy Money in Canterbury Cathedral earlier in the day.

It will be the first royal visit to the new Scouting, sports, karting and conference complex. However, the late Princess Diana and her sons, Princes William and Harry, were occasional visitors to the old Buckmore Park and its popular karting circuit. The Duke of Edinburgh has also previously visited the old centre.

Young people will play an important part in the ceremony. Scouts will form a guard of honour along both sides of the approach road and the Queen will be invited to speak to youngsters and see a range of activities.

Cecil Whitehead, who was recently awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours, was overjoyed with this second royal honour.

He has run Buckmore Park for more than 50 years and worked tirelessly to transform the centre when the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and widening of the M2 threatened the old park’s future.

The Queen is to unveil a plaque and officially declare the centre open. “This is very helpful for us,” Mr Whitehead said. “The Queen and the Duke are going round the centre to see it all with children undertaking various activities and there will be activities in the whole building,” he said. “We’ll have to get the place spruced up a bit.”