YORK will today mark the 800th anniversary of gaining its royal city charter with a visit by Prince Andrew the Duke of York following a weekend of celebrations.

Despite heavy rain on Friday forcing City of York Council to cancel two of the biggest events of the weekend for safety issues – the flotilla and the Dragon Boat Races – the brighter weather on Saturday and yesterday meant many other celebrations could still go ahead.

Although the flotilla was called off due to the high river levels, a number of boat owners remained at Foss Basin and held an impromptu celebration of their own in the evening.

Throughout Saturday, a succession of bands took to a stage in Parliament Street for the MOR Music Festival, where 19 bands including Huge, The Buccanneers and Littlemores performed 800 minutes of music.

At Clifford’s Tower, visitors were in the company of royalty, as “King John” told tales from his throne, and allowed his subjects to try on his crown.

Visitors to Dean’s Park were treated to the relocated performance by Ebor Vox, along with other musical acts, while throughout the city centre, shoppers and visitors to the art gallery were surprised by a series of flash-mob choir events, with groups bursting into song without warning.

York resident Claire Pickard who watched the event at Dean’s Park on Saturday with her mother, Mavis, said: “The choir looked confident. It was very polished, and the brass band were very good too.

Coun Sonja Crisp said: “Even though we had to postpone the flotilla, it has still been a fantastic weekend in the city.”