Duke of Kent goes down memory lane during Hampshire tour (From Daily Echo)

Duke of Kent goes down memory lane during Hampshire tour

4:39pm Monday 29th October 2012 in News

A ROYAL visitor experienced a strong sense of deja vu during a trip to Hampshire.

The Duke of Kent toured the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and was presented with a photograph showing him performing the official opening in 1972.

He was also reunited with a children's car that was originally given to him at the same ceremony.

Based on a 1924 Sunbeam Cub the vehicle is equipped with a small petrol engine but has only two pedals and no reverse gear.

It was used by his three children but later spent many years in a garage at Kensington Palace and began to deteriorate. It was now been restored by the workshop team at Beaulieu for use by his grandchildren.

The Duke, 77, began his day-long visit to Hampshire by opening the £2m Ringwood Gateway complex, which houses council offices.

His chauffeur-driven Jaguar was subsequently caught up in congestion and the royal visitor was half-an-hour late arriving at the museum, which was founded by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.

He was greeted by two of Lord Montagu's children, the Hon Ralph Montagu and Mary Montagu Scott, and told them: “Sorry you've had to wait to so long.”

The Duke inspected several cars in the museum and also toured the Bond In Motion display, which celebrates 50 years of 007 movies.