​A special visitor will be putting the royal into the Royal United Hospital later this month.

The Duchess of Cornwall will tour part of the oncology department of the hospital on March 31.

She will be a guest of the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

In the last quarter of a century, the group has raised more than £3 million to support cancer services at the RUH.

Projects it has funded include a £1 million linear accelerator radiology machine, a £350,000 new reception area and a £220,000 new day treatment ward.

Earlier the same day, the duchess will officially open new facilities run by the St John's Hospital charity, of which she is patron.

She will meet residents and staff from St John’s, one of the oldest almshouse charities in the country, and unveil a plaque celebrating the reopening of Chapel House, which has undergone a £1.8 million redesign and rebuild.

The visit marks the end of the first phase of a modernisation programme and she will be shown plans for the next stage, which is scheduled to begin at the end of this year.

Jonathan O’Shea, chief executive of St John's, which is also a major commercial landlord, said: “We are very honoured that Her Royal Highness will be visiting our premises.

"As this is her first visit as our new patron, we know the duchess is keen to meet some of the residents from not only the city centre but also the almshouse at Combe Park.  

"It will be a special day in the history of our 835-year-old charity.”