Royal visit for castle’s anniversary

Leeds Castle will celebrate its 900th anniversary next year with a royal visit.

The Queen’s cousin, Princess Alexandra, has been the attraction’s patron for the past 40 years and will be invited to formally open the new woodland walk gardens being created in her name. Her Royal Highness, who is 81, is 50th in line to the throne.

Her last visit was in November 2016 when she inspected the newly restored Aubusson tapestries in the castle’s dining room.

Next year marks 900 years since a stone castle was first built on the site at Leeds, in 1119, by the Norman knight Robert de Crevecoeur.

There is evidence that its history is even earlier with a Saxon chief called Led (hence Leeds) said to have built a wooden fortification on the island in the River Len as early as AD 857. 2 Roman Square, Sittingbourne 13 Lowfield Street, Dartford Knight Road, Strood (opp Morrisons) Open 6 days a week Mon-Sat 9am - 5pm BS7950 BS7413 BS3621 BSEN12150-1