Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice is celebrating the news of its royal patron.

His Majesty King Charles III is to continue in the role he began at the Cheltenham hospice as Prince of Wales in 1986.

Over the past 38 years, he has been a regular visitor, making special memories for patients, families, hospice supporters, volunteers and staff.

Elise Hoadley, service director at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said: "We are absolutely thrilled His Majesty has chosen to continue his support of our hospice, and the vital care we provide to people who are at the end of life or are grieving here in Gloucestershire."

Jo Cadogan, therapies assistant at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, met His Majesty during a visit in 2018.

She said: "I find working at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice incredibly uplifting, as it is a place of such positivity. There isn't a day which goes by here without smiles, but everyone's joy soared when Prince Charles visited.

"His Majesty spent the day wandering through the hospice and chatting to each patient and all of the staff. One patient even said, 'he had all the time in the world to speak to me'. And that was exactly how it felt - he listened and was so invested in the stories being shared by everyone he met."

It has also been announced that His Majesty King Charles III will be royal patron of Sue Ryder, the national charity which runs Leckhampton Court Hospice, following his mother Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Patronage of the charity.

Heidi Travis, chief executive officer of Sue Ryder, said: "To have His Majesty chose to continue his vital support of our charity and our Gloucestershire hospice as King is a huge honour for everyone involved with Sue Ryder. This news means so much to us all and will help really elevate our charity's efforts to transform the experience of people who are dying or grieving."