Princess Alexandra will be visiting patients and staff as part of a special celebration to mark the first anniversary of Cornwall Hospice Care on April 26.

The Princess will be flying to St. Austell for a tour of Mount Edgcumbe Hospice before she joins dignitaries and invited guests at a marquee reception in the beautiful grounds of the hospice.

There will be a Cornish theme to the occasion with singing from the Imerys Engineering Male Voice Choir in the marquee and Mr Nick Barwell, chairman of the board of trustees, will present Her Royal Highness with a hamper of Cornish produce, kindly donated by Kingsley Village. Local school children have also been invited to welcome the Princess.

Paul Brinsley, chief executive of Cornwall Hospice Care said: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Princess Alexandra, particularly at this important milestone in the history of hospice care in Cornwall. It is wonderful that she will be able to spend time with our patients, staff, volunteers and fundraisers."

"The visit will celebrate the first anniversary of the merger of St. Julia's and Mount Edgcumbe hospices into Cornwall Hospice Care, which took place on April 1 2006," he added.

Princess Alexandra - has not visited the hospice before - will have the opportunity to spend time with patients and families at the in-patient and day unit and to meet staff and volunteers from both hospices, who play such an important role in caring for terminally ill patients in Cornwall.

The Princess is well known for her charity work, and has a particular interest in medical and welfare issues. She is Patron of St. Christopher's Hospice in London - the country's first hospice.

Cornwall Hospice Care provides specialist palliative pare - the term used to describe specialist clinical, practical, emotional and spiritual support - for patients who have a life threatening illness and helps support their families, friends and carers.

It is an independent charity providing 24 specialist beds at its two hospices as well as day clinics, outreach services and bereavement support throughout the county. The annual running costs stand at nearly £5 million (a figure which equates to an astonishing 16p second) with less than 10% coming from local NHS funding.