The King is to make his first official visit to Lancaster as Monarch – the first time he will use a title he inherited upon the death of his mother in 2022.

As Sovereign, King Charles is de facto Duke of Lancaster – a title he is usually only ever referred to when in the county.

His Majesty will visit on June 9 where he will tour and receive the keys to Lancaster Castle, before meeting representatives from the local communities.

Amanda Parker, Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, said it would be “a very special occasion”.

The King last visited the county in 2022 as Prince of Wales, when he visited the seaside town of Morcambe.

The Duke of Lancaster is a title that is always held by the Sovereign and the Duchy of Lancaster provides an income to the Monarch.

The Sovereign has held the title since 1399 when Henry Bolingboke, Duke of Lancaster, deposed his cousin, Richard II, partly to win back the rich duchy which the king had taken from him. 

Henry had inherited it from his father, John of Gaunt, who had become duke through his first wife, Blanche. 

One of the first acts of the new King Henry IV was to declare that the Duchy of Lancaster would be changed to be held “separately from the other possessions of the Crown.”

The King works with a team, including the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, to handle the portfolio. They meet a number of times a year to discuss issues related to the Duchy.

The King is usually only ever called ‘Duke of Lancaster’ when in the county of Lancashire. In the area, and at gatherings of Lancastrian regiments, the loyal toast to the Crown is usually to ”The King, the Duke of Lancaster.”

Additional reporting by Jess Ilse