Cllr Hodson said: “This is a great honour for the club.”

After viewing some of the boats out of the water, the Commodore escorted the King on board the yacht Momentus and took him on a cruise of the racing waters where he could see the club fleets on their moorings.

After sailing past the historic Unesco World Heritage Waterfront of Liverpool, and via Albert Dock they went to visit GL Watson & Co Ltd, the oldest dedicated yacht design firm in the world.

A reception and dinner held by RMYC in the King’s honour was later held at the Town Hall in Liverpool, along with His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. At the dinner, Commodore David Massey presented the flags of the RMYC to the king, continuing its historic links with royalty.

The RMYC’s first Patron was Queen Victoria and each reigning monarch continued the patronage until 1952 when it was taken over by the Duke of Edinburgh, who had visited its headquarters in 2008. The present premises, at 8-10 Bedford Road, Rock Ferry, were purchased in 1901, and the existing pair of semi-detached houses he clubhouse opened on May 31, 1901.

The club house, overshadowed by an oil terminal, is a few yards from the jetty that is used by the club for access to the river.

Building on its illustrious history the club remains active and arranges more than 50 races a season, including a regatta in June, and during the Menai Straits regattas in August.

One of its claims to fame is that former members Henry Ismay and son Bruce, the proprietors of the White Star line, sketched plans for the Titanic in its committee room.