CLITHEROE proudly welcomed royalty yesterday as the £3.5million Castle Museum complex was officially opened.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester toured the site and unveiled two plaques, one at the museum entrance and one at the creative activity space.

He met local dignitaries and officials involved with the castle project as he spent nearly two hours at the site in glorious sunshine.

A keen architect with an ancestral connection to the castle’s history, the Duke took a strong interest in the castle.

Chris Hughes, community development manager at Ribble Valley Borough Council, said the Duke was very knowledgeable.

Peter Robinson, chairman of Clitheroe Castle Trustees, has championed the castle scheme since 2007.

He said: “It was a fabulous day and a culmination of a lot of hard work from many people over the past 10 years”. The castle and museum complex opened to the public last month after a two-year redevelopment.

The Duke was greeted on his arrival by the borough’s mayor, Coun Beverley Jones.

She said: “He took a great interest in the area and the buildings at the castle.

“The Duke was extremely well briefed.”

The Duke met two students, Angela Whalley and Christian Barsby, from Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, who had artwork displayed at the Your Clitheroe exhibition being held at the castle.