BOURNEMOUTH could host a royal visitor if the town’s outgoing mayor has his way.

Councillor Phil Stanley-Watts, who is coming to the end of his year as mayor, met the Duke of Edinburgh at a Royal Garden Party on Wednesday afternoon.

He promptly decided to invite Prince Philip for a summer holiday in his beloved town.

“I had my chains of office on, as a mayor has to,” said Cllr Stanley-Watts.

“I saw the Queen, who acknowledged me, and then Prince Philip started chatting to me.

He said, ‘Those chains must weigh you down heavily’.”

The Queen’s consort then asked Cllr Stanley-Watts where he was from.

The mayor said: “I told him, ‘I’m from sunny Bournemouth – you should come for a holiday sometime’.

“I’m always trying to promote Bournemouth, and this seemed like a wonderful opportunity.”

Unfortunately, there was no reply from Prince Philip.

Cllr Stanley-Watts said: “He didn’t say anything, but it would be brilliant if he did decide to visit.”

The mayor said he enjoyed lunch in a hotel in London before being taken to Buckingham Palace at 3pm.

“The Queen arrived at 4.30pm, but she didn’t stay for very long,” he said.

“I was there with lots of other mayors, including the mayor of Poole, and it was a lovely occasion.”

The most recent royal visitor to the town was Princess Anne, who celebrated the achievements of students at Bournemouth University.