Lancashire's proud Army regiment is set to receive the royal seal of approval.

The Queen will visit Fulwood Barracks in Preston on June 26 to present the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment with its new colours.

Thousands of serving and former soldiers, Army cadets and their family and friends will descend on the Watling Street Road barracks for what promises to be a memorable day of pomp and ceremony.

The two-year-old regiment – formed after the merger of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, the King's Regiment and the King's Own Royal Border Regiment – will be the first of the newly born regiments to get its new colours.

And as the Duke of Lancaster's colonel-in-chief, the Queen will present the new colours to the 1st, 2nd and 4th Battalions which will all have members present.

The colours will be consecrated in a short religious ceremony before a parade.

Retired Col Martin Amlot, one of the event organisers, said: "The colours become the central focal point of regimental pride and honour and, as such, they are very carefully guarded in each of the battalions that they belong to.

"They are brought out on all regimental formal occasions under armed guard, then secured back in the regiment's barracks as immensely valuable items.

"They haven't been taken into battle since the 19th century."

A meticulous planning operation has been under way for 12 months to ensure the day goes as smoothly as the Queen's last visit to Preston in 2002 when she awarded city status.

However, unlike the last time, members of the public will not be invited to see the Queen in June.

Col Amlot said: "Whilst we would wish on another occasion to involve the people of Preston, this is one of those once-in-25-years events where the regiment has its own party.

"The presentation of colours is such a special regiment family occasion that it attracts many people from the regiment, there simply isn't space to make it an even wider event."