Kingston has scored a royal coup by securing the first nationwide celebration to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee with a visit from Princess Alexandra.

The princess, who is 39th in line to the throne, will return to St Luke’s church, whose foundation stone her great grandmother laid in 1888, on the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession on Monday, February 6.

The Queen herself does not attend celebrations on the anniversary of her father’s death, and will spend the day on her Sandringham estate.

Father Martin Hislop said: “It’s appropriate the oldest royal borough gets to start the jubilee year. It reflects the historic links the borough has with the crown, going back to the Saxon kings.

“It’s a great honour for the parish. We cherish our historical links and we are very proud with our early royal patronage.”

The borough secured first official event of jubilee after Mayor Councillor Patrick Codd decided to hold his civic service in the Canbury church he is warden of.

Father Hislop suggested they use the occasion to mark the Queen’s accession, and the mayor invited the princess, who lives in Thatched House Lodge in Richmond Park.

She previously marked the Queen Mother’s centenary at St Luke’s in 2000, and returned five years later to dedicate its rose garden.

Tiffin Boys’ choir will provide the music, and the mayor also invited representatives of all the borough’s schools. Half the congregation will be made up of children.

The princess will be presented with a pen and ink drawing of St Luke’s, whose spire she can see from her home.

Coun Codd said: “It’s a very special event, unique as the very first event of the jubilee celebration.”

A measure of how important it is, is that 22 mayors from London, Surrey and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and Greenwich, which has just been made a royal borough, will be attending.

“It’s a remarkable coup.”