Prince Philip and the Princess Royal are to be asked to help bring the America’s Cup competition back to the Solent, where the competition began in 1851.

The Island’s council will be contacting Buckingham Palace to try to enlist Prince Philip’s help to bring the competition back to Cowes for the first time in more than 150 years.

Already King Juan Carlos of Spain has thrown his weight behind Barcelona being a possible venue for the event. Now the Island’s council is to contact both Prince Philip and The Princess Royal to get royal backing for Cowes’ bid.

The Princess Royal, the president of the British Olympic Committee and president of the Royal Yachting Association, is also to be asked to back a return of the event to Cowes. Last year, she helped to launch Britain’s challenge when she named Peter Harrison’s Wight Lightning in Cowes.