PORT chiefs will welcome the Princess Royal next week as she visits for an action-packed celebration and the opening of a new �300million container terminal.

The royal guest will be at the Port of Felixstowe on Wednesday for the ceremony at the two deepwater berths, the first phase of a complete transformation of the historic heart of the port and Landguard.

The berths will be able to handle the world’s biggest ships and even larger models currently under construction.

Princess Anne has been a frequent visitor to the container terminal over the years – and was the guest when Trinity Terminal was opened in the port’s centenary year back in 1986.

On one of her visits she unloaded a container from a ship using a quayside crane and then drove a port-side road tug.

Film of her visit next week will form part of a massive party for portworkers and the town later in the day.

Thousands are expected to flock to the event to enjoy the fun on the seafront and celebrate the 125th anniversary of the port.

Live music and film, a spectacular firework display over the sea, and plenty of food and drink will be on offer from 6pm to 8.30pm on the Pier Bight area of Undercliff Road West, between the Felixstowe Town Hall and the leisure centre.

It will also help raise money for the RNLI Felixstowe branch – the port’s chosen charity for the year – and there will be a bucket collection, while the Sheringham Shantymen, Felixstowe pier owner Stan Threadwell and some of the vendors will be donating to the cause, too.

The port is also giving �1 from each sale to the public of a special souvenir book being produced as a gift for portworkers.

David Gledhill, chief executive of Hutchison Ports UK Ltd, said: “The seafront event to celebrate our 125th birthday as a working port gives us the opportunity to thank the whole community and for them to join in the celebrations.

“We’re making it an early evening event so the whole family can come along and enjoy good food, local music and a firework spectacular.”

? Also during the day, the Princess Royal will be visiting the Suffolk Yacht Harbour at Levington in her role as patron of RYA Sailability at the East Anglian Sailing Trust (EAST) Waterside centre to commemorate EAST’s 15th anniversary, before going to meet those involved with the Catch 22 services, which help young people living in care, or who have previously, live independently, at Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich.