Leeds Castle will celebrate its 900th anniversary next year.

That is 900 years since a stone castle was first built on the site 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 Len as early as AD 857.

Princess Alexandra has been the castle’s patron for the past 40 years and will be invited to visit the estate and formally open the new woodland walk gardens being created in her name.

The Princess who is 81 is the Queen's cousin.

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