A ROYAL family arrive in the North-East today at the start of a three-day official visit to mark a 30-year link between the region and their nation.

The King and Queen of Lesotho are staying as guests of the Bishop of Durham to mark three decades of links between the diocese and the South African mountain kingdom.

During the visit, Their Majesties King Letsie III and Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso will visit the Venerable Bede Church of England Academy school and The National Glass Centre in Sunderland; visit the historic Town Hall and Houghall Campus agricultural college in Durham; and will also see the work of the Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Service, recognising the King’s interest in farming.

The cricket-loving King will also take in a T20 match between Durham and Yorkshire at the Emirates Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street, before rounding off the visit with a church service in the same town celebrating the work of the Durham Diocese – Lesotho Link project.

The charity was set up in 1986 and Bishop of Durham the Right Reverend Paul Butler invited the Royal couple to Durham last year during a visit to their kingdom.

The Revd Margaret Bianchi, executive director of the Durham-Lesotho LINK, said: “The King has often attended significant Link events in Lesotho, he is also patron of the Lesotho Royal Lifesaving Society which the Link set up, so it is fantastic that he is able to be here and for us to show him around the Diocese taking in places and areas of mutual interest.”

She added: “The Link is important because of its long term commitment to Lesotho, particularly working with youth and vulnerable people.

“It models a realistic style of sustainability and, through the partnership, enables people in Durham to gain an understanding of developing world issues.”

Tonight, the King and Queen will attend the cricket game between local rivals Durham Jets and Yorkshire Vikings and carry out the official coin toss on the pitch to start the game.

Durham CCC’s commercial and community director, Michelle Carney spent 18 months in Lesotho running a charity which worked with vulnerable young people, including orphans and children living on the streets.

She said: “We are privileged that Their Majesties have chosen to come and visit us at Emirates Riverside as part of their short trip to County Durham.

“They were very involved and supportive of the charity work I was doing in Lesotho and were a great personal support to me during my time in the beautiful mountain kingdom.”