Patients at the Royal Free London have been enjoying the royal wedding countdown with a series of events around the trust.

Royal wedding tea parties have been taking place on the wards and in departments at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital throughout the week.

At Chase Farm Hospital patients on Capetown ward received personal invitations to a royal wedding tea party. Staff and patients created patriotic red, white and blue bunting for the event, there was a ‘best hat’ competition and staff encouraged patients to reminisce about previous royal weddings.

The event was organised as part of the ward’s engagement with the #endPJparalysis campaign which asks staff to get as many patients as possible up and dressed every day to aid with their wellbeing.

Madhu Malhotra, a physiotherapist on the ward, said: “As part of the campaign we are also running events for patients and encouraging them to dress for in their own clothes. Patients really enjoy the activities and their families, carers and nursing staff now understand the benefits. I think this has been our most successful event so far, although I have to say our bingo night was also a huge triumph!”

Barnet Hospital Charity, alongside Barnet Hospital's director of nursing, Julie Meddings, will also be hosting a royal wedding tea party and the Royal Free Hospital are kicking off their celebrations with a ‘Sparkle like Markle’ event.

Goretti Doolan, a ward sister at the Royal Free Hospital, said: “I think it’s really nice to celebrate our cultural heritage and a royal wedding party does just that.  We want to help our patients get up, and dressed and come and enjoy the party.  It’s also something fun for our staff to do.”