THE SOUTH is to get a royal visit on Friday when members of the Royal Family celebrate the 200th anniversary of a Hampshire yacht club.

Members of the Royal Family will be in Cowes to attend the bicentenary celebrations of the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Yesterday of the patron of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, the Duke of Edinburgh, was in Hamble for the commissioning ceremony of the newly completed Prince Philip Yacht Haven. 

Prince Philip viewed the completed development for the first time since giving his name to the project to transform the club’s waterfront three years ago.

Accompanied by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Lindsay Fox, Prince Philip was welcomed to the Royal Southern Yacht Club by its commodore, Christopher Mansfield, before meeting flag officers and members of both the Royal Southern and its neighbour and partner in the project, the Royal Air Force Yacht Club.

Later, the Duke met the chairman of the group responsible for the Haven development, Past Commodore Mr. Mark Inkster, and its members, together with representatives of the Hampshire-based contractors who had worked on the project, before unveiling a commemorative plaque and taking lunch with Members.

The eight-month building project included the construction of a new quay wall, a dredge providing full tidal access, a new slipway and re-positioning pontoons to create enhanced berthing facilities for members and visitors.

The Haven includes a disabled access, an ecologically sound “living wall” for invertebrates and, overall, the development will provide added flood protection to the village of Hamble.

Commodore Mansfield said: “The Prince Philip Yacht Haven would never have been completed without the unstinting generosity and tolerance of Members, who deserve our unreserved thanks.

“Nor would it have been delivered without the foresight and impetus of members from both clubs who made up the Haven Group, or the contractors selected to bring it to fruition. It is truly a world class facility which will transform the sailing opportunities for both clubs.”

The Royal Southern Yacht Club has enjoyed Royal patronage since its formation in 1837.

A member for 67 years, the Duke of Edinburgh became its patron in 2002.