THE Princess Royal will arrive by helicopter at Britain’s biggest port this afternoon to open a new garden.

She will be visiting the Felixstowe Seafarers’ Centre, where the garden has been built to provide seafarers with an oasis where they can relax off-ship after sometimes up to two months at sea.

The garden has been designed by specialists Deakinlock and features a timber pergola with a clear perspex roof, raised paved area with seating to provide sanctuary from the worst of the weather, raised beds, and timber cladding to screen it from the railway line.

Princess Anne will be met by a guard of honour of Sea Cadets, and will meet officials from the centre, run as an ecumenical mission by the British International Seafarers’ Society, the Mission to Seafarers and the Apostleship of the Sea.

Earlier in the day she is opening a new education centre in Wisbech, and visiting the British Racing School in Newmarket, and then in the evening travelling back to London for the RAC centenary dinner at Pall Mall.