Happy memories for Duke on Minster visit

A ROYAL guest, touring the city on an official visit yesterday, has returned to York Minster where he was married more than 50 years ago.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, accompanied by volunteer guide Dr John Gough, visited the cathedral as part of a wider city tour.

Here he was presented with items to view from the Minster’s historic collection, including old images, an order of service and altar cushions from his wedding to Miss Katharine Worsley on June 8, 1961. The couple had met while the Duke was stationed at Catterick Army base.

“We were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent back to York Minster, where he was married 56 years ago,” said the Dean of York, The Very Reverend Vivienne Faull. “Many parts of the 800-year-old cathedral will have been familiar to him but it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to show him the results of recent conservation and restoration projects, including the work on the 15th century Great East Window, which will be completed next year.”

The visit was part of a city wide tour which included trips to the York Mosque and Islamic Centre as well as the Jorvik Viking Centre which recently reopened after flooding in December 2015.

Sarah Maltby, who led the project, said: “It has been a phenomenal few months since we reopened Jorvik in April, with strong visitor numbers and excellent feedback, so we were proud to showcase the hard work of the team today.”