MANY famous people have graced the doors of Canterbury Cathedral over the years, with Orlando Bloom and David Suchet two of the most recent.

Back in May 1997, Prince Charles was the star attraction when he joined more than 2,000 people to celebrate the 1,400th anniversary of the arrival of St Augustine – the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

Royal visitor: Prince Charles, who joined 2,000 people in Canterbury Cathedral in May 1997 to celebrate the 1,400th anniversary of the arrival of St Augustine – the first Archbishop of Canterbury – to Kent, shares a few words with the Dean of Canterbury the Very Rev Dr John Simpson
Prince Charles joined 2,000 people in Canterbury Cathedral in May 1997 to celebrate the 1,400th anniversary of the arrival of St Augustine - the first Archbishop of Canterbury - to Kent
Young friends: The 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury Dr George Carey is pictured with pupils from the Diocesan and Payne Smith School. Were you among them?

The crowd surrounded the precincts in bank holiday sunshine to welcome Prince Charles to the city and witness one of the biggest religious occasions ever held in Canterbury.

The Prince, who had flown in to Howe Barracks by helicopter, arrived five minutes before the start of the service and took the opportunity to quickly meet members of the crowd.

A photo from the Canterbury Times at the time captured the winding queue of pilgrims who waited to be addressed by Archbishop Dr George Carey, the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury

The former Archbishops of Canterbury Lord Runcie and Lord Coggan attended the service, which lasted just over an hour, along with representatives of all the major churches.

The Canterbury Gospels, widely believed to have been brought with him by Augustine, provided the focal point for the service taken by the Archbishop.

Dr Carey continued the celebrations with the opening of the £1 million lottery-funded English Heritage Museum at St Augustine's Abbey, one of the most important sites in the history of the Anglican church.

The Archbishop said at the time: "This makes it possible to see, in my mind's eye, monks and faithful people going about their lives – and imagine myself among them."

After the opening ceremony, the Archbishop took a tour of the abbey ruins, stopping to hear 20 children from the Diocesan and Payne Smith school perform music written especially for the occasion including a rap section written by student Zoe Kay-Bradley.

Dr Carey told the children: "I am sure St Augustine would have been delighted with that rap."

Do you remember Prince Charles's visit? Or were you one of the pilgrims? Contact us and share your memories – 01843 578167 or e-mail at newsdesk.times@KRNmedia.co.uk