Prince William returns to birth place

Sep 14, 2006, 14:43 GMT

Britain's Prince William will visit the hospital where he and his brother Prince Harry were born.

The 24-year-old royal - who is currently training to be an army officer at Sandhurst Military Academy - has been invited by St Mary's Hospital, in London, to open their refurbished neo-natal intensive care ward on September 20.

The Winnicott Baby Unit provides specialist care for more than 300 sick and premature babies from across the UK each year.

Princess Diana gave birth to her first son - full name Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales - in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, at 9.03pm on June 21, 1982. Two years later William's brother, Harry, was born in the same private wing.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "William was asked by the hospital if he would open the unit and as it does such fantastic work he was only too pleased to accept.

"He has a free afternoon from training so he is able to be there."

During his visit William will be given a tour of the unit and meet with staff and patients.

Diana returned to St Mary's Hospital in April 1997 - four months before she was killed in a Paris car crash - to visit the paediatric intensive care unit and meet with sick youngsters.

(C) BANG Media International