IT ONCE helped teach future kings of England how to sail the mighty dreadnaughts which were the pride of the British Royal Navy.

Now, 86 years after it closed its doors to officer cadets, the former petty officers quarters at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight has been transformed with a £1m makeover into a 21st century visitors' centre for the historic building.

The new facilities were officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight Sir Christopher Bland at a glittering ceremony yesterday.

The centre is the latest phase of an improvement project being undertaken by English Heritage at the former summer home of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their nine children.

The Royal Naval College was founded just two years after Queen Victoria's death at Osborne House in 1901 and for 17 years trained officer cadets how to rig masts and oil engines as part of their grooming for future careers in the Royal Navy.

Among the 4,000 cadets who attended the college until its closure in the 1920s were Prince Edward (later Edward VII) and his brother Albert (later George Vl), as well as Louis (later Earl) Mountbatten.

Inside the refurbished building, there is a spacious shop and 60-seater cafe, decorated with pictures from the days when Osborne was home to cadets who would go on to fight in both of the last century's world wars.

The exhibits aim to give visitors a taste of what is in store for them during their visit to the historic house including lesser-known gems such as the Ice House and Queen Victoria's bathing machine.

A huge, newly created, scale model will also help visitors find their way around the Osborne house and grounds more easily.

There is also a self-catering cottage, which has been refurbished at a cost of about £100,000 to provide a holiday home for visitors to Osborne, paying up to £900 a week.

Mark Pemberton, English Heritage director of properties and outreach, said: "Since Osborne House is one of the country's most stunning and important properties, we are pleased to be continuing our investment in the site to ensure our visitors receive a more fitting and exciting welcome to their day out."