The Duke of Cambridge will today be joined by Ralph Lauren when he opens the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust's new centre for breast cancer research named after the fashion designer.
The Ralph Lauren Centre for Breast Cancer Research was funded by supporters of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, including a generous donation from the designer.
William has a long association with the hospital, he became the Royal Marsden's president in 2007, following in the footsteps of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, who held the same position from 1989 until her death in 1997.
During his visit the Duke will first tour the laboratories and meet members of the research and clinical teams, and chat to patients in the medical day unit, who are participating in trials supported by research undertaken at the centre.
It has been redeveloped to provide a world-class facility for breast cancer research, staffed by a team of internationally renowned clinicians and scientists working with the latest in cancer research technology to set a benchmark for cancer research around the world.
Lauren will join the Duke on the tour of the centre where they will hear about the latest research trials and studies taking place, including work the hospital is carrying out in collaboration with US institutions.
The new centre incorporates four strands of pioneering breast cancer research that will draw upon new technological advances and allow much more rapid and in-depth analysis of patients' disease.