The Duke of York is to visit the Minster next week.

He will inspect the restoration of the Great West Door and unveil a commemorative plaque on Friday, June 19.

He will then meet the Minster craftsmen and women who have toiled since 1995 to refurbish the external masonry and sculptures in a project that cost £1 million.

The Duke will browse round a small museum dedicated to the work before meeting others involved in the project in the Chapter House.

Before leaving the Minster, Prince Andrew will meet a group of French airmen who during the Second World War were stationed at Elvington - nicknamed "Little France" at the time.

The 110 airmen will arrive at Elvington the day before in a C130 Hercules of the French Air Force.

When the Duke was last in Yorkshire, in January, he pledged to strengthen his links with the region.

He agreed to be a patron of York's Millennium Mystery Plays, and he launched the Duke of York Community Initiative, to help breathe new life into depressed parts of Yorkshire.

The Duke revealed that the idea of the Yorkshire initiative had arisen after a visit almost two years ago to York's Bell Farm Estate after a refurbishment project.

The idea had germinated slowly and was still being developed, with the aim of helping communities help and develop themselves.

One such scheme, awarded a special charter by the Duke during a visit to Askham Bryan College in January, is the Beckwith project in York.

This will involve the refurbishment of the Carr Youth Centre, adjacent to Northfields School, to create a great new Carr Youth and Community Centre.

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