HRH The Duke of Sussex delighted patients and staff at Oxford Children's Hospital when he came to visit today (Tuesday 14 May 2019).

He was welcomed to the hospital by former patient 13-year-old Daisy Wingrove, who presented him with a special ‘Witney Bear’ wearing an Oxford Hospitals Charity  top as a gift for baby Archie.

Daisy led The Duke on a tour around the Children's Hospital, where he stayed and chatted with young patients on Kamran’s Ward, which cares for children with cancer, and Melanie’s Ward which looks after older children

The Duke also met some young patients and their families who have supported our hospital charity through the recent £2 million appeal for the Children’s Hospital.

The Appeal is funding state-of-the-art monitors, super-fast meningitis testing equipment and helping support new on site parents’ accommodation, as well as many other improvements to make a huge difference within the children’s hospital.

Lady Baldry, Chair of the Children's Hospital Benefactors Board and Trustee of Oxford Hospitals Charity, said: "The Children's Hospital is such a special place and we are absolutely thrilled that The Duke came to meet our patients, brilliant staff and hospital supporters.

"It's been a particular privilege to introduce him to some of the wonderful families who have worked so hard to fundraise for the hospital. It's been a very special day indeed."

Anna Drysdale, a seven year old cancer patient from Chipping Norton, who has been looked after both in Oxford and at the Horton Children’s Ward, chatted about her time in hospital and how she had loved being the cover girl of the charity magazine.

Her mum, Keeley, told the prince about the fundraising the family had done, and how they were already benefitting from the new monitors the charity has been able to purchase.

Keeley said: "It's Anna's birthday soon, so it was lovely to have The Duke wish her a happy birthday. It was wonderful to meet him - he was so friendly and warm, and genuinely interested in all of our stories.

"Fundraising for the charity is a way for us to say thank you to the hospital for all the care Anna has been given. We're really grateful."

Beth Spargo, also seven, was born with a cleft palate, dislocated hips and was initially unable to breathe or feed. Her mum Julia, from Bicester, was told Beth might never be able to walk or talk, but the youngster is now thriving.

Julia regularly takes part in the charity’s fun run, getting a huge team together at the annual Oxford Mail OX5 Run, all dressed as bees.

Beth told the Duke that she actually loved hospital food, and pointed out a photo of her mum dressed as a bee at the fun run.

The Duke also met Mikayla Beames, aged 12, from Wantage. Mikayla was diagnosed with brain cancer aged just four and considers the hospital her second home. She has met the Duke before when receiving a WellChild award and encouraged him to visit the hospital.

Her mum Natasha said she was thrilled that out of the thousands of children the Duke meets, he had remembered Mikayla.

The final stop on The Duke's tour was Oxfordshire Hospital School, which supports pupils who spend a lot of their time in the Children's Hospital.

Children are taught in purpose-built classrooms, on their wards, or in single rooms, with lessons tailored for each pupil.

Headteacher Steve Lowe said: "The children were incredibly excited to meet The Duke. It's all they could talk about for the rest of the day.

"We felt really honoured that he chose to come and see us - not many people know there's a school in the hospital, so the recognition of our work to support children with their education during what can be a challenging time for them was very special."

Eleanor Jones from Oxford Hospitals Charity said: ‘This has been a very special visit indeed. It’s been really wonderful to show Prince Harry why the Oxford Children’s Hospital is such a special place, filled with dedicated NHS staff and inspirational children.

"We were also thrilled that we had the chance to introduce him to some of our amazing fundraising families who have worked so hard to help us raise extra funds for the hospital.

"He was so attentive with all the children and also really interested in hearing their stories about their time in hospital."

Oxford Hospitals Charity raised almost £15 million to help create Oxford Children's Hospital twelve years ago and a further £2 million to help fund the new parents’ accommodation for families of sick children, new medical equipment and improved play areas.

CLICK HERE to support the work the charity does.