A charity celebrating its 20th birthday will receive a Royal visitor today.

The Duchess of Gloucester is visiting the county, making stops in Workington and Carlisle.

She will visit the headquarters of Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland in Dalston.

Julie Blundell, fundraising and marketing manager for the charity, said: "It is a great honour for us.

"This will be a unique opportunity to commemorate the 20th anniversary year and is a chance to thank all those who work hard for the charity as staff, volunteers, business partners and patrons.

"A reception will be held and the Duchess will unveil a plaque commemorating the anniversary. This special gathering is also a time to reflect and remember."

Since its establishment as a charity in 1997, the palliative care service provided by Hospice at Home has supported more than 6,000 families in north east Cumbria.

Julie added: "Those families and their carers will be in everyone’s thoughts.

"Also being remembered will be those members of staff, volunteers and supporters from the local community who have contributed to the success of the charity from its earliest days as a pilot project in the Eden Valley.

"Hospice at Home now looks forward to the future. There is an ever-growing demand for its services and the mission of the charity is to provide more care for more people."

Earlier in the day the Duchess will officially open Workington Academy and later in the day she will call in at the Stead McAlpin factory at Cummersdale.

Here she will go on a tour of the factory - that makes and produces fabric for John Lewis and Laura Ashley - before opening the new Christopher Soper Design Centre for future textile designers.