A regional daily’s bid to raise £2m for a children’s hospital on its patch has received royal backing.

The Duchess of Cambridge has lent her support to the Oxford Mail’s campaign to raise the cash to mark the 10th anniversary of Oxford Children’s Hospital.

The appeal, launched almost a decade after the hospital was opened by The Queen, aims to raise the cash to build a new unit at the facility.

The campaign was launched on Monday’s front page.

In a personal message of support for the campaign, the Duchess said: “It is wonderful to hear of the inspiring ways in which charitable donations have helped young patients and their families at the Oxford Children’s Hospital over the past decade.

“So many areas of hospital life have been touched by the generosity of those donating to the hospital’s charity.

“It is the efforts and dedication of these individuals, groups and organisations, in conjunction with the tireless work of committed hospital staff, that makes this 10th Anniversary celebration so very special.”

She continued: “”I wish this appeal every success in raising funds so that babies, children, teenagers and their families can continue to be looked after in as comfortable and happy an environment as possible, with the very best equipment, during what is inevitably a challenging and anxious time for all.”