PRINCESS Anne will officially open a £1.9million underground shopping scheme in Bradford.

The Sunbridgewells scheme, off Centenary Square, and built underneath Sunbridge Road, Upper Millergate and Ivegate, will be given the Royal seal of approval by The Princess Royal on Wednesday, June 28.

But the development will not be open to the public during her visit, expected for an hour from 12.15pm. During her visit, Princess Anne will be given a guided tour of the site and also will unveil a plaque.

Kevin Sharp, clerk to the Lieutenancy in West Yorkshire, contacted Buckingham Palace to see if a member of the Royal family could officially open Sunbridgewells after paying a visit himself.

It is one of two engagements the Princess Royal has in the city that day, as she will also open a new wing at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The first phase of the project, which was originally due to open in late 2014, opened to the public in December last year.

It includes the Wallers Brewery pub, a cocktail bar and a Laurel and Hardy-themed bar.

It has welcomed more than 200,000 people through its doors during its first six months.

Graham Hall, of Yeadon-based developer Sunbridgewells, said: “As you can imagine, this is a truly historic day for Sunbridgewells and Bradford.

“There is a good buzz here that Princess Anne is visiting. This could put us on the map.

“You can’t get much better than welcoming Princess Anne.

“We will give her a tour of the development and she is expected to be here for an hour. It has gone really well in its first six months.”

Sunbridgewells’ second phase, with an entrance on Ivegate, includes the Rose and Crown pub which has a 100-person capacity and features a number of real ales from the district, including Saltaire Brewery.

An original wooden sign for the Rose and Crown Inn, dating back to the 1870s, was found during work to create the underground complex.

The sign, hand-painted by Bradford artist Thomas Forrest, was found in a loft last year.

The second phase of the project will also include a juice bar and steakhouse, with a combined 100-person capacity, due to open later this year.

Phase two was originally expected to include a second site for The International restaurant, based in Morley Street. A vacant unit, previously a Toni & Guy hair salon, was to have been converted into a 60-seater restaurant. But those plans were revised.

The complex’s first phase includes bars and 14 shops, selling goods including sweets, coffee and women’s fashion. More shops are due to open later this year, when five lockable stalls begin trading.