Prince Charles is to become the figurehead for a leading cancer charity.

He has accepted an invitation from Marie Curie Cancer Care to become its president.

He takes over from the Duchess of Kent, who is scaling down her public commitments.

The Prince's first official engagement in the role will be on Millennium Eve, when he visits a Marie Curie hospice in Edinburgh.

The charity is the biggest provider of hospice beds outside the National Health Service and also supports cancer patients at home through its nationwide network of 5,000 Marie Curie nurses.

Marie Curie chief executive Sir Nicholas Fenn said: "This is a splendid start to the millennium for Marie Curie. The Prince of Wales is well known for his personal commitment to the cause of cancer care."

The Prince's new role with the charity will complement that of his grandmother, the Queen Mother, who has been the charity's patron for 45 years.