THE guessing game over who will be the next Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports goes on after Prince Andrew - one of the favourites for the job - visited the county on Tuesday (Trevor Sturgess writes).

During his tour of the Kent Messenger Group's Larkfield head office, the Duke of York made no official pronouncement over speculation that he would be offered the post.

Prince Andrew's name has been frequently linked to the honorary position last held by his grandmother the Queen Mother.

She was a frequent visitor to Walmer Castle, the traditional seat of the Lord Warden, and last week voted Kent Tourist Attraction of the Year.

Guests who attended a private lunch with the Duke of York on Tuesday said that he was asked if he was likely to be the next Lord Warden but he made no official comment.

The prestigious job has been vacant since the Queen Mother died in 2002 and speculation has grown that it might go to the Duke of York.

But other names have also been mentioned, including two former presidents Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton, and former Prime Minister John Major.

Although the job is largely ceremonial, it involves a number of tasks. As the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, the Duke of York is already busy with national and overseas visits and might find it hard to fit more duties into his diary.

However, he is unlikely to turn down the job if Prime Minister Tony Blair offers it to him.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said she did not know when an announcement would be made. "People have been discussing this since the Queen Mother died and I'm afraid we haven't got any announcement to make just at the moment," she added.

The Duke of York is already patron of the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club and past Dukes of York have held the post. However, there is also a tradition for past prime ministers to be granted the coveted role.

The Duke visited four locations during his tour of Kent. After spending time with teachers and pupils at Pluckley Church of England Primary School, he flew by helicopter to a field close to the headquarters of the Kent Messenger Group, publisher of this newspaper.

He was welcomed by KMG chairman Edwin Boorman before taking lunch in the company boardroom with VIPs and senior KMG executives.

Also present were Viscount De L'Isle of Penshurst, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Tony Monteuuis, the High Sheriff of Kent, and Mike Fuller, the Chief Constable of Kent.

He later visited the head offices of Locate in Kent, the agency that promotes the county as a great place to do business, and spoke to business and civic leaders from across the county.

Prince Andrew ended his visit with a tour of the offices and laboratories of Aventis Pharma, the pharmaceutical company based at Kings Hill, West Malling.