EXCITEMENT is building as Poundbury prepares for a "historic" royal visit.

As reported in the Echo, the Queen is due to visit on Thursday, October 27, along with the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, to unveil the statue of the late Queen Mother in Poundbury's Queen Mother Square.

With the royal visit confirmed by Buckingham Palace, Poundbury's longest serving resident Peter Noble said it promised to be a great occasion for local residents.

He said: "I'm very much looking forward to the visit, it's nice to bring publicity to Poundbury which is positive."

Mr Noble said he was also looking forward to the completion of Queen Mother Square, which was set to become the "heart of Poundbury".

He said: "That's the centre of Poundbury and that always was the plan from day one.

"It will be good to see the heart of Poundbury completed."

Mr Noble described the architecture and design of the square as "fitting for the centre of Poundbury" and added: "It's all very sympathetically designed and that's good."

Whilst the day will mark the first time all four members of the royal family have visited Dorchester together, Prince Charles visits his Poundbury estate twice a year.

Prince Charles is a regular visitor to his model development at Poundbury, but the unveiling will be the first time all four members of the royal family have visited Dorchester together.

Mayor of Dorchester Tim Harries said the royal visit promises to be a day to remember.

He said: "I believe it's the first time we have had the queen and heir here at the same time in Dorchester and I don't think that happens in many places at all.

"So it's certainly a historic occasion for Dorchester.

"We're very excited by it and very much looking forward to seeing them coming along."

The unveiling will reveal the 9ft 6in cast bronze statue of the Queen Mother on a plinth in the heart of Queen Mother Square.