Prince Philip came to East London today to visit one the world’s most famous steamship - forty years after he started a campaign to save her for the nation.

Newham Recorder: The Duke of Edinburgh meets Jim Fitzpatrick MP as he visits the SS Robin, east London most famous ship, at at Royal Victoria Dock, Newham.The Duke of Edinburgh meets Jim Fitzpatrick MP as he visits the SS Robin, east London most famous ship, at at Royal Victoria Dock, Newham. (Image: Archant)

The Duke of Edinburgh unveiled a plaque to inaugurate SS Robin’s new permanent home in Royal Victoria Dock, just a mile from her original birthplace on the River Lea where she was built at the famous Thames Ironworks Shipyard - home of West Ham United - in 1890.

Newham Recorder: The Duke of Edinburgh visits the SS Robin, east London most famous ship, at Royal Victoria Dock, Newham.The Duke of Edinburgh visits the SS Robin, east London most famous ship, at Royal Victoria Dock, Newham. (Image: Archant)

The visit marks the start of the final phase of an extensive five year restoration, costing £3million. The work has been supported by thousands of volunteers, friends and contractors since the charity originally bought the ship from Cutty Sark for £1 in 2001.

Newham Recorder: The Duke of Edinburgh visits the SS Robin, east London most famous ship, at Royal Victoria Dock, Newham.The Duke of Edinburgh visits the SS Robin, east London most famous ship, at Royal Victoria Dock, Newham. (Image: Archant)

This final phase of restoration work - known as ‘Open Doors’ - has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Newham Council, and is intended to be completed in 2014, when SS Robin will open to the public.

SS Robin is one of only three ‘Core Collection’ ships of the National Historic Fleet in London, alongside her better known sister ships Cutty Sark and HMS Belfast.