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The Anglo-Prussian victory over Napoleon at Waterloo changed the face of Europe forever.

Now, 200 years on, the anniversary of the historic battle is being celebrated with a series of events across Kent, including a visit by the Royal Navy warship HMS Northumberland.

The frigate will recreate the journey of the dispatch announcing news of the allied victory to London.

HMS Northumberland will arrive off Broadstairs at about 10am today

The famous dispatch began its journey from Ostend aboard HMS Peruvian, but the sloop was becalmed in the middle of the channel.

Undeterred, the Peruvian's commander, James White, lowered a boat, and handed an oar to Wellington's aide Major Henry Percy of the 4th Light Dragoons - the only aide to have survived the battle unhurt.

Accompanied by four crewmen, they rowed to Broadstairs, and found a carriage to take the dispatch to London, stopping to change horses in Canterbury, Faversham, Sittingbourne and Chatham.

HMS Northumberland will arrive off Viking Bay at 10am tomorrow, where the Mayor of Broadstairs will greet 'Percy' and 'White'.

Following the ceremony the second leg of the re-enactment will begin as a horse-drawn carriage starts the journey to London.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Kent will attend a service of commemoration in Canterbury Cathedral, followed by the arrival of Percy and White in the carriage in the Cathedral Precincts - admission is by ticket only.

Percy will present a replica dispatch to the city.

The Battle of Waterloo, by William Sadler

Next week, on Saturday, June 27, attention switches to Faversham, where the Mayor and town crier will welcome Percy and White between 10.45am and 11.30am

At about 1.30pm, the carriage will arrive in Sittingbourne where the Retailers Association is staging a Regency Fair and Festival.

And at 4pm, the carriage will arrive at the Great Lines, Chatham behind Fort Amherst for a Beating the Retreat ceremony.

That weekend also sees an exhibition at Walmer Castle, where the Duke of Wellington, and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, died in 1852.

Another exhibition at the Powell-Cotton Museum in Quex Park, Birchington, features artefacts relating to Napoleon and the Battle of Waterloo, including Napoleon’s carriage clock and a lock of his hair.