AN eagerly anticipated royal visit quite literally went swimmingly after flooding left the Queen’s youngest son stranded.

Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, visited Mersea Island yesterday afternoon, but the stop-off wasn’t all plain sailing.

Following a trip to the Mersea Island Community Centre, the pair were scheduled to arrive in West Mersea at lunchtime.

The royals’ convoy, however, was severely delayed after high tides engulfed The Strood, blocking the route in and out of West Mersea.

Eventually, Princes Edward - who is said to be playing peacekeeper to Prince Harry and Prince William - made it to the yacht club, where further flooding across Coast Road prevented access to the Company Shed.

The prince, who was also celebrating his 56th birthday, was supposed to be taken on a tour of the historic family oyster business by manager Tom Haward.

Security had even finely checked over the traditional shop in advance to ensure it was safe and royal-ready.

But after careful consideration, the trip from the yacht club to the Company Shed was deemed to treacherous for the prince.

Tom instead decided to brave the waters himself, before he enjoyed a friendly chat with the Queen’s son about the island’s oyster trade.

“He came to visit the community to see what we do,” said Tom.

“We are the oldest oyster farming family in the world, so I think he wanted to see a traditional oyster farming family.

“They wanted to see locally produced food and to see how that is benefitting the local economy.”

He added: “My mum is a massive fan of the royals, she loves them - she’s always been a huge fan.

“It is nice people like the royals are acknowledging what local businesses are doing.

“Whether you like the royals or not it is exciting, and it is something which doesn’t happen every day.”

Self-proclaimed royalist David Daines, who lives on the island, was delighted to hear of the visit.

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He also praised the pair’s decision to continue fulfilling their public duties despite the outbreak of Coronavirus.

He said: “I think it is a great thing they have come here to visit.

“They haven’t been deterred from coming, despite Coronavirus, which shows the sort of people they are.

“We get lots of celebrities come down here , so I don’t think it’ll make a massive difference to the way we are.

“I am sure the royals loved it here - they'd be mad if they didn’t.”

Paul Birtchnell, who is the branch manager of Mersea Island’s Marinestore, believes the visit will only be a positive thing for the area.

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He said: "I am not a royalist and I wasn’t aware of the visit until yesterday, but when I found out I thought it was great - it is exciting.

"It is really good for Mersea Island and to have such high-profile people come to the island and give it some extra coverage is brilliant."

Fran French, who runs Mersea Island Fresh Catch, says the visit will boost trade for the company.

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“I think it is lovely they have come to visit the island”, she said.

“We are really lucky to have a nice royal family.

“Their visit is really good for the community and hopefully it will help boost the summer trade.

"We can now say we’ve been visited by the royals.’’