THE Royals have spent a lot of time in Dorset over the years, from completing military training in Purbeck to building the iconic town of Poundbury.
Ahead of tonight's tell-all interview with Prince Harry and Meghan on Oprah, we thought we'd take a look back at some of the most memorable visits from the Royal Family to our wonderful county.
The Queen's visit to Bournemouth and Poole - July 1979
In July 1979, Bournemouth and Poole shared a royal visit. The day started with the Queen and the Duke visiting Poole Arts Centre, which had opened to the public the year before, and where they listened to Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra rehearsing. They moved on to the Quay, where they were presented with some specially commissioned Poole Pottery.
The tour then took in Dorset Institute of Higher Education at Wallisdown before heading via the Lansdowne to Madeira Road in Bournemouth, where the Queen and the Duke toured Bournemouth Central Police Station.
Before leaving, the Queen asked the mayor, Cllr Frank Beale, to “pass on my thanks to the people of Bournemouth for their warm welcome”.
READ MORE: PICTURES: The Queen's visits to Dorset and the New Forest through the years
The Queen unveils a statue of the Queen Mother in Poundbury - October 2016
Thousands of people lined the streets to give the Queen a true royal welcome as she visited Dorset to unveil a statue in honour of the Queen Mother and take a tour of the Duchy of Cornwall estate in October 2016.
The royal party visited the ‘urban extension’ of the county town at Poundbury, home to 3,000 people, to see the latest developments and visit Queen Mother Square.
READ MORE: PICTURES: The Queen visits Dorset to unveil new statue
Harry rented a cottage in Shaggs while training in the military at Bovington - June 2006
Harry's cottage in Shaggs
It was widely reported in 2006 that Prince Harry had rented an isolated cottage in the village of Shaggs while he trained to become a tank commander at nearby Bovington Camp in Purbeck.
Newspapers claimed his then girlfriend Chelsy Davy visited the prince on many occasions at the property.
The quaint little cottage, reported in a tabloid to cost £1,500 a week in rent, is on a farm owned by the Weld Estate, in an area of Lulworth.
Party Prince at Toko - June 2006
While he was training at Bovington Prince Harry reportedly drank vodka and danced the night away at Bournemouth bar Toko.
His group of around 15 were given the VIP area of the bar and ordered vodka and Red Bull as they danced at the student Retox' night.
Although the group was comprised mostly of men, they did attract the inevitable female attention but Harry was said to have been mainly interested in dancing.
READ MORE: Partying Prince and pals pop in to Toko
Prince William trained at Bovington Camp - March 2007
Prince William started training at Bovington Camp in March 2007, during this time his four-year relationship with Kate Middleton was put on pause.
He spent four and a half months training to be a Troop Leader at Bovington with the Blues and Royals, an armoured cavalry regiment.
He learned signals and how to operate a Scimitar light tank, including the 7.62mm machine gun and 30mm cannon on Lulworth gunnery range.
During his time here William was seen clubbing at Bliss into the early hours, refusing to have a special VIP section set up.
He also paid for himself and others to see Ocean’s 13 at Weymouth’s Cineworld cinema that June, and was spotted in the town’s Asda spending £860 on alcohol and snacks – clearing the shelves of Pimms.
William revisited Dorset in 2008.
Kate Middleton and Prince William later got back together after their brief split and married in April 2011.
Countess of Wessex visits centre in Ringwood - January 2015
Her Royal Highness, Sophie, Countess of Wessex paid a visit to the Stable Family Home Trust at Bisterne, near Ringwood, and was met by dignitaries, members of staff and cheered by the trust’s service users on her arrival.
During her visit The Countess took a tour of the sensory garden, was treated to a drama performance and spent time admiring the woodwork and pottery created by the talented adults.
READ MORE: Picture and video gallery of the visit.
Countess of Wessex opens Sandford St Martin's Primary School - September 2015
THE Countess of Wessex officially opened Sandford St Martin's Primary School in September 2015 as part of a whistle-stop tour of Dorset.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, herself a mother-of-two, chatted with primary school youngsters as she toured the new building before addressing a school assembly and unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion.
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