Prince William opens Headley Court troop rehab centre

Prince William met patients during a tour of the rehabilitation complex

Prince William has attended a ceremony to mark the opening of new facilities at armed forces rehabilitation centre Headley Court.

The Help for Heroes centre features a range of resources including a new swimming pool and gym.

William, 27, met service personnel rebuilding their lives after being injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Surrey facilities were built using money donated by the public to the Help the Heroes charity.

William and his brother Prince Harry have previously met patients being treated at Headley Court.

'Hope for future'

Speaking about the time he first stepped through the doors of the unit with his brother, William told the guests: "We expected to find a place of suffering with, perhaps, a pervading atmosphere of desolation.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. Here reigns courage, humour, compassion and, above all, hope for the future."

The centre began its work after World War II for RAF personnel, but in 1996 became the main UK military rehabilitation centre for all three armed forces.

The site provides consultants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, social workers, a psychologist and a cognitive therapist.

Maj McQueeney, who has worked at Headley Court for three years, said the new facilities meant there would be a "multi-disciplinary team with technicians and clinicians working together in one building" on a daily basis.