Visitors to Harewood House today got more than they bargained for when a right royal visitor dropped by.

The Duke of Kent was flown into the estate in a private helicopter at about 3pm, landing on the lawn next to the main driveway to the stately home.

Families spending a day at the popular attraction in the final weekend before it closes for the winter raced across from the nearby adventure playground to watch as His Royal Highness walked up the steps to the impressive building, recently used to double up as Buckingham Palace in the hit TV production Victoria, followed by several members of staff carrying his luggage.

The helicopter took off again shortly afterwards, with crowds of onlookers taking photographs.

Security personnel in a Range Rover carried out several sweeps of the grounds before the burgundy helicopter, bearing a Royal crest, swooped down. Security vehicles blocked off the road in both directions, and three more cars carried security staff, several of whom were armed.

The Duke of Kent, Colonel in Chief, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, had visited the 5th Battalion at Anzio House, Quayside, Newcastle, earlier in the day.

As patron of Opera North, he is due to attend a performance of Billy Budd at the Grand Theatre in Leeds tonight.

Staff are used to welcoming Royal guests, most recently Prince William, his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, and his brother, Prince Harry, for the official start of the Tour de France Grand Depart in July 2014.

Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, is a grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary. He has held the title of Duke of Kent since 1942.

He carries out engagements on behalf of his first cousin, Queen Elizabeth II. He is perhaps best known as President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, presenting the trophies to the Wimbledon champion and runner-up.

At the time of his birth, Prince Edward was seventh in the line of succession to the throne of his grandfather King George V, behind the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, his cousins Elizabeth and Margaret, his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester and his father. As of the birth of the Duke of Cambridge's second child, The Queen's fifth great-grandchild, on May 2 2015, the Duke of Kent was 34th in line to the thrown. At of the death of the 7th Earl of Harewood in 2011, he became The Queen's oldest living paternal cousin, although he is nine years younger than Her Majesty.