ONE of England’s oldest and most respected sailing clubs welcomed its latest recruit during an official visit – the King of Norway.

The Royal Mersey Yacht Club (RMYC) in Wirral played host to His Majesty King Harald V of Norway after the king accepted honorary life membership – as first revealed in the Daily Post last year.

The RMYC was founded in 1844 and counted then Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel among its members. Now the club is working with Wirral Council on a massive redevelopment of the borough’s Mersey coast line from Rock Ferry up to Eastham.

The plans at Rock Ferry include a new club and launching facilities.

Yesterday, former commodore Dr Nicholas Jedynakiewicz – who had invited the King to visit – escorted His Majesty around the club, where he was welcomed by Commodore David Massey and the Flag Officers of the club.

The club commodore David Massey said: “We are delighted to welcome such an accomplished and passionate sailor as His Majesty to the club.

“The Royal Mersey is proud of its traditions and long heritage whilst currently in the vanguard of imaginative and exciting Rock Ferry regeneration proposals.

“The club currently race three classes of modern and classic keelboats and is active in racing at both club and international levels.

“We are proud that His Majesty is recognising this by joining us and now with this visit”.

The King is a well-known sailor and represented his country sailing in the Olympic team three times.

He has also won gold, silver and bronze in the European Championships.

Wirral’s chief executive Steve Maddox and the Mayor Cllr Andrew Hodson joined the club members and His Majesty for lunch in the club and to view the racing yachts. They presented the King with a book highlighting Wirral’s links with Norway by local author Stephen Harding.