Sutton’s mayor is stepping down this month a record-breaker after receiving the most royal visits in a year.

Councillor Gerry Jerome has welcomed four members of the royal family to Sutton in the past 12 months – believed to be a record for a Sutton mayor.

As well as meeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their high-profile visit to the Royal Marsden, he also welcomed Princess Anne when she visited Sutton Carer’s Centre, and the Duchess of Gloucester during their recent visit to St Raphael’s Hospice.

He will also get to meet the Queen as part of her jubilee celebrations this summer.

Coun Jerome, who will step down on May 21, said: “The visit by the Duke and Duchess was obviously one of the highlights because there was so much interest in the visit as it was one of their first public appearances together after their marriage.”

During their time in office, Coun Jerome and his deputy mayor, Coun Hamish Pollock, have attended more than 320 community events and raised about £13,000 for Ways to Work, a charity the mayor set-up to help young people get into employment.

He will now continue to lead the charity after he hangs up the mayoral chains.

The 58-year-old, who is a councillor for Nonsuch ward, said other highlights to his year had been meeting many volunteers who give up their time to help others in our borough, and attending several Jack Petchey awards celebrations to mark the achievements of young people including the Speaking Out grand final.

Coun Jerome said: “This has been an unforgettable year. I’ve been a councillor for more than 10 years and I thought I knew Sutton very well, but I’ve had the privilege to see places and meet people I never knew existed before.

“It has been incredibly humbling.”

Outgoing council leader Sean Brennan is to take over as mayor on May 21.