Yarmouth's Hippodrome Circus is preparing to greet what is believed to be its first Royal visitor in its 105-year history.The Duke of Kent will be attending the second in a series of classical music concerts at the venue on February 4 to see world-renowned cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber play alongside the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Yarmouth's Hippodrome Circus is preparing to greet what is believed to be its first royal visitor in its 105-year history.

The Duke of Kent will be attending the second in a series of classical music concerts at the venue on February 4 to see world-renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber play alongside the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Joe Mackintosh, director of SeaChange Arts, which has organised the concert series, said: "This is fantastic news. After the success of the visit to the town by the Princess Royal earlier this year, a second royal visit is a real coup and we're delighted that this is happening during the King John Charter 800th anniversary celebrations."

Hippodrome owner Peter Jay said: "I am absolutely delighted. I am not aware of any members of the royal family coming to the Hippodrome before."

He said tickets were already selling much faster than for the first concert in the series last month, starring international pianist John Lill and the Munich KlangVerwaltung Orchestra.

"The first concert went OK but it deserved better sales. I think it may have been affected by the fact John Lill had recently played in the area," he said.

February's concert will feature a rousing programme of the best of Russian and English classics, from Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sir Edward Elgar and Tchaikovsky.

The visit by the Duke of Kent was arranged by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, Richard Jewson, who was impressed by the inaugural concert.

In a letter to SeaChange he wrote: "The acoustics in the Hippodrome are brilliant and I was so glad to have seen an iconic building not known to me. It is so important that Yarmouth's cultural life advances with its economic progress."

The concert series, which has revived a tradition of orchestras playing at the Hippodrome in the 1960s and 1970s, will continue on March 15 with a visit by the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and violinist Ernst Kovacic.

Three extra concerts have already been pencilled in, two for autumn next year, including a performance by the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra and one in the spring of 2010.

For tickets contact 01493 844172 or book online at www.hippodrome-circus.co.uk.