Hospital boss delighted as King becomes patron

King Charles is to be patron of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn

A hospital boss has said a new royal patronage will shine a light on the work of staff.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk, has been told King Charles will follow in the footsteps of his mother by becoming a patron.

Chris Lawrence, chairman of the hospital's governing NHS foundation trust, said he was delighted.

The hospital is near the Royals' Sandringham estate.

'Deeply honoured'

Royal patronages have been reviewed following Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022 and King Charles' accession.

“We were delighted to receive the news that His Majesty is now our patron and we are deeply honoured that he has decided to continue the patronage of the late Queen," said Mr Lawrence.

"The patronage will be a great support in shining a light on the work our staff carry out every single day to help patients and their loved ones.”

A number of staff had met the King at Royal garden parties, the hospital said.

In a statement, the hospital said matron Phulmattie Mohan had recently attended "the King’s Garden Party"

The King's grandmother was treated at the hospital in 1999

King Charles' grandmother, the-then Queen Mother, had a minor operation at the hospital, to stop bleeding from her nose, in January 1999, aged 98.

She died in March 2002.

Earlier this month, a charity supporting Norwich Cathedral said King Charles had become a patron.

Queen Elizabeth was also a patron of the Friends of Norwich Cathedral.

The charity was given the news in a letter from Buckingham Palace.