ROYAL Greenwich will finally get its royal visitor today as the Queen marks the opening of a fully-restored Cutty Sark.

The iconic tea clipper will be officially opened by both Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh this morning and fully available to visit from tomorrow.

She will be met by 300 primary school children from across the borough singing a specially composed suite reflecting the area's history and heritage.

Greenwich Council leader Councillor Chris Roberts said: "It is a great privilege to welcome Her Majesty to Greenwich in the same year that it has been made a Royal Borough.

"As we prepare to celebrate the Queen’s 60 years on the throne, it is fantastic that children from Royal Greenwich will have the opportunity to sing to Her Majesty."

The visit is the climax of an eventful few days in the town centre, with millions of people around the world seeing marathon runners pass the new-look tea clipper at the weekend.

And the town also received another special visitor last week as the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams marked the 1,000th anniversary of St Alfege's martyrdom with a pilgrimage from Southwark Cathedral to Greenwich.

At the church which bears the saint's name, the archbishop watched a re-enactment of his predecessor's death, which saw him brought to Greenwich in 1012 by Danish pirates before being bludgeoned with ox bones and killed with an axe.

Alfege was the first Archbishop of Canterbury to die violently and was canonised by Pope Gregory VII in 1078.

Dr Williams said: "When he was captured by the Vikings, and they asked for a huge ransom, he refused for it to be paid because the burden would fall on the poor.

"He died not just for his faith, but he died for justice - quite a legacy".

Reverend Chris Moody said: "It was wonderful because it drew the complete circle.

"Having the Archbishop of Canterbury murdered here and then to have his memory celebrated by the present archbishop was the best thing that could have happened."