THE EARL and Countess of Wessex will give the Daily Echo-backed Southampton Council of Faiths Tsunami appeal the royal seal of approval with a special visit tomorrow.

The couple are expected to join religious leaders from the community at the Medina Mosque and the Vedic Hindu temple to pay tribute to their combined efforts in helping victims of one of the world's biggest natural disasters.

The Rev Ian Johnson, rector of the Southampton city centre parish and Southampton Council of Faiths member, said: "It's a great honour for Southampton Council of Faiths that its work is to be recognised in such a way. It is also an opportunity for the community as a whole to share publicly its sense of unity and desire to work together.''

Our local appeal has so far raised £16,000, with money still coming in.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Royal Family has been supporting the relief efforts in many different ways since the disaster on Boxing Day.

"At this stage we would not wish to comment on the reason for the visit as we are sure the Earl and Countess of Wessex would want to explain this themselves when they arrive.''

During the hour-long visit, the royal couple will also be meeting people who have been affected by the disaster and some of the community's fundraisers.

Naresh Sonchatla, spokesman for the Vedic temple, said: "I think it's great that the Earl and Countess want to come along and see what's being done. It's nice of them to take an interest in community efforts.

"I hope the visit will motivate and inspire others to get involved in helping with the relief work for tsunami victims.''

Medina Mosque secretary Rashid Brura hopes the visit will encourage the faiths council to get involved in more fundraising efforts.

He said: "It's fantastic that royalty are recognising what the locals are doing. I think it's unique the way all the faiths are working together,

and hopefully the recognition will be good in spurring us on to do a lot more.''

The visit by the couple follows a host of royal engagements relating to the disaster, with the Queen visiting the emergency hotline for worried relatives and the Prince of Wales witnessing aid efforts at a London Buddhist temple.

Princes William, 22, and Harry, 20, were the first members of the Royal Family to take part in volunteer work when they helped survivors of the tsunami tragedy by working in a warehouse sending aid to stricken victims.