A newly revamped cancer centre was given the royal seal of approval as it was unveiled by the Countess of Wessex this week.

The refurbished Kensington Cancer Centre at BMI The Princess Margaret Hospital, in Windsor, was declared open by Her Royal Highness on Monday.

Staff and patients at the hospital in Osborne Road met with the countess as she toured the individual treatment ‘pods’, the outpatients’ reception and the therapy and consulting rooms.

Jayne Cassidy, the hospital’s executive director, said: “The redevelopment of the Kensington Cancer Centre is actually more than the refurbishment of a building; we have updated our care pathways in line with patient expectations and with their input, and have worked with consultant oncologists to establish systemic anti-cancer therapy services.”

The centre is for people receiving chemotherapy palliative care and personal support for a range of cancers – breast, cervical, kidney, oesophageal, ovarian, prostate, skin, testicular and womb. It delivers more than 3,200 treatments each year.

Like the other wards in the hospital, The Kensington Cancer Centre was named after the royal residence.

Miss Cassidy said its refurbishment represents a “significant” investment from the hospital’s parent company, BMI Healthcare.

The centre’s counselling and quiet room – The Ashford Room – was named after consultant clinical oncologist Dr Richard Ashford for his commitment to cancer patients and his valued input into the planning of the centre.

He said: “It was a great honour and surprise to have a room named after me. I was pleased to support the refurbishment of our unit. We now have a better space, with better facilities for both patients and staff.”

The opening of the centre came 38 years after the hospital was officially opened by Princess Margaret.