New Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports takes office

Admiral Sir George Zambellas is the new Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports

Admiral Sir George Zambellas has been officially appointed as the new Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports at a ceremony in Dover, Kent.

The event comes five months after he was appointed by the King, and follows the death of Admiral the Lord Boyce, who became Lord Warden in 2004.

The position was first introduced in the 11th Century to protect the Kent and Sussex coastlines before the existence of the Royal Navy.

Previous holders of the title include the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother.

The member towns which make up the Confederation of the Cinque Ports include Deal, Dover, Faversham, Hythe, Lydd, Margate, New Romney, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Folkestone and Tenterden in Kent as well as Hastings, Rye and Winchelsea in East Sussex.

The post is now largely ceremonial, although the Lord Warden has the use of Walmer Castle in Deal as an official residence.

The new Lord Warden was installed in a ceremony at Dover

Admiral Sir George Zambellas said: “It’s a huge honour and I never ever thought it would fall to me.

"I know many others would love the role. I expect I was handed it because I spent a long time in the military and have got to contribute to a number of defence and security opportunities over the years.

“I am a Dorset boy so it will be a little harder for me to spend time down here but that’s part of the challenge and fun of it," he said.

"I hope I will be able to use Walmer Castle as a base but if not it will be like it has been over the last few days, an Airbnb in Deal, and that’s fine for me and that way we will get to know each other and get to know the community.”