The Princess Royal is to visit the top performing hospital in Sussex.

Princess Anne became patron of Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead following the death of the Queen Mother.

During her visit on November 5, she will formally open the redeveloped and refurbished Canadian Wing, which houses the hospital's main surgical wards and an ophthalmogy ward.

She will also unveil a memorial to members of the world famous Guinea Pig Club.

This is a hand inscribed roll of honour containing the more than 600 names of all the airmen who were burned during World War II and then treated by pioneering plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe at East Grinstead.

The visit will also give the Princess a chance to learn first hand how plans are progressing for the hospital to become one of the country's first NHS foundation trusts in April.

The controversial status will give the trust, which has been given a maximum three star rating from the Government for two years running, greater freedom from Whitehall control.

Trust chairman Garry Martin said: "It was a great honour for us when the Princess Royal agreed to become patron of the Queen Victoria Hospital earlier this year, continuing the line of royal patronage we have enjoyed for the past 54 years.

"We are all delighted she is able to visit us in November. The trust is a flagship of the health modernisation agenda and we look forward to showing the princess the exceptional work being undertaken."

The Queen Mother visited the hospital three times as patron.

In July 1946 she opened the American Wing and in July 1955 opened the children's ward.

In 1963 she attended celebrations to mark the hospital's centenary and laid the foundation stone of its old Burns Unit.

The hospital provides specialist services, including burns and plastic surgery, to 4.5 million people in the south east and community services to the local population.