King Charles visits Kent
It was his first visit to the county since his coronation
Last updated 10th Jul 2025
King Charles visited Deal and Walmer in Kent today, his first visit since to the county since his coronation.
Charles started the day by visiting both castles in Deal and Walmer, walking the gardens.
There he met mayors and charities from the historic Cinque Ports confederation - 14 south-east coastal towns that formed an alliance, originating in the medieval period, once vital to England's trade and defence.
The head of state had returned to Walmer Castle in Deal, the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports - a post held by the Queen Mother until her death in 2002.
Admiral Sir George Zambellas, former head of the Royal Navy, now performs the role and hosted the King's visit, giving him a tour of the castle where he was updated on a multimillion-pound project to repair its roof.
With the majority of the Cinque Ports in Kent, including Dover, the epicentre of small boat crossing landings, Sir George was asked about the issue before Charles arrived and said it was a question for the mayors of the towns affected.
"The Cinque Ports has a 1,000-year history of south coast protection, and we don't have a role at the moment in protecting the south coast," he said.
When Charles met the representatives from the 14 Cinque Ports, he chatted to Stephen Bailey, Mayor of Hythe, and asked: "I remember years ago as a child going on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, is it still going?"
When he was told it was, he replied "hurrah" and mentioned another railway memory watching the famous luxury train the "Golden Arrow" in the 1950s when a boy - describing it as "very exciting".
After, King Charles headed to Walmer Beach, where he spoke to RNLI volunteers about their work, joined in with some litter picking and greeted members of the public.
Deal and Walmer residents gathered in their hundreds as Charles waved and shook hands with many of them.
He told one resident as he shook their hand "those shingles are very hard work".
One man, wearing nothing on his top half, admitted "I'm a bit underdressed, aren't I?" which the King chuckled at.