PATIENTS at St Elizabeth's Hospice will be treated to a right royal welcome-every day - thanks to an Ipswich man.Ray Jones donated a portrait of the Queen to the hospice after he entered it in to a national competition and won.

PATIENTS at St Elizabeth's Hospice will be treated to a right royal welcome-every day - thanks to an Ipswich man.

Ray Jones donated a portrait of the Queen to the hospice after he entered it in to a national competition and won.

The portrait is to hang in the patient's lounge for all to admire and Mr Jones was very pleased to have given them this gift.

"I entered a competition called 'paint a royal' and I was one of the winners.

"I was extremely pleased because it was then chosen to hang in the National Gallery in London along with some of the other winners."

Mr Jones, of Faraday Road, Ipswich, is a self-taught artist who has painted other members of the royal family including the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Diana shortly after her death.

"I received a letter from Balmoral saying the Queen very much liked the painting and suggested that I gave it to a group or charity in the area.

"I have done fund-raising for St Elizabeth's in the past and thought this would be a good idea."

The hospice was really pleased to accept the painting.

Jean Potter is assistant fund-raiser for the hospice, she said: "Ray has done a lot for the hospice and we are delighted to accept this painting, it will really help brighten up the lounge."