THE Queen will visit Brompton Barracks at Gillingham next month in her capacity as Colonel in Chief of the Royal Engineers.

It will be the first time she has visited the barracks since May 20, 1987, when she opened the Royal Engineers Museum.

The monarch was last in the Towns five years ago at the launch of the Universities at Medway campus.

Details of her visit are yet to be confirmed, but Buckingham Palace has confirmed Thursday, October 25, as the date.

The history of the Royal Engineers in Medway goes back to 1812 when Captain Charles Pasley set up an establishment by Royal Warrant to teach soldiers the techniques of “sapping, mining and other military field works”.

Medway Council leader Cllr Rodney Chambers, said: "We were delighted to welcome the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to the launch of the University of Kent at Medway campus in 2002.

“It is always an honour to have a member of the Royal Family visit Medway and we hope her planned visit for next month will be enjoyable and informative.”

FULL STORY IN THE SEPTEMBER 10 EDITION OF THE MEDWAY MESSENGER