THERE is a flurry of activity in Town Hall Square today as the city prepares for the royal visit by the Queen and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

Phone boxes and post boxes are being given a fresh lick of red paint, while lampposts and other street furniture are being given a new coat of black paint.

Chester and District Standard:

Pictures by Simon Warburton

And council workers are giving the paving slabs are final going over with their cleaning machines.

The double yellow lines have also been given a fresh coat.

The recently-closed McDonald's has also been concealed with signage boards promoting the city's market, which will be open throughout the day for royal watchers and television crews who might want a tasty bite to eat or to pick up a souvenir.

Thousands of revellers are expected to descend on the Town Hall Square for the visit of Her Majesty the Queen and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, with the royal visitors expected to be in Chester around lunchtime.

Interest in the visit is high as it is the first official engagement for Meghan following her marriage to Prince Harry last month.

But those attending should be aware of a pre-planned minute's silence – in memory of all those affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster one year ago – which will be held at noon following the sounding of a siren..

To mark the beginning and end of the minute's silence, a siren will sound out across Town Hall Square.

Chester and District Standard:

Pictures by Simon Warburton

The Queen and the Duchess of Sussex are to visit and officially open Storyhouse on Thursday, taking in a tour of the building and witnessing a range of community groups and performers put on various displays.

The royal pair will then walk from Storyhouse to Chester Town Hall, where they will attend a lunch as guests of Cheshire West and Chester Council.