Buckingham Palace has announced today the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are to visit Chelmsford Cathedral next month.

East Anglian Daily Times: Chelmsford CathedralChelmsford Cathedral

The royal couple will attend a service at the cathedral on May 6 to mark the centenary of the Chelmsford Diocese.

They will also visit Felsted School, which is celebrating its 450th anniversary this year.

Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Chelmsford, said: “Chelmsford Diocese is one hundred years old this year. People from all over this vast and diverse diocese, from East London and Essex, will be gathered in our cathedral to welcome Her Majesty the Queen.

“The Queen’s visit is the icing on the cake of our centenary year.

“It is an additional honour to welcome the Queen to the newest city in her realm.”

The Dean of Chelmsford Nicholas Henshall added: “It’s fantastic to be welcoming the Queen to this special celebration at Chelmsford Cathedral in our centenary year.

“It is going to be a celebration of the extraordinary contribution the churches make to the communities of Essex and East London, and a huge endorsement of the role of the church in public life.

“But this visit isn’t just for us - it’s for everyone in Chelmsford and across the region working for the common good.”

The service will be played on loudspeakers in the cathedral churchyard for the public to hear.