The Queen will visit the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) to mark the 500th anniversary of the organisation.
During the visit the Queen will be shown the original charter document from 1518, granted by Henry VIII, which founded the College.
It was established to help regulate the medical profession at a time when anyone could call themselves a doctor and start treating patients.
The Queen will visit the Royal College of Physicians headquarters at Regent’s Park, a building whose foundation stone she laid in 1964 (Joe Giddens/PA)
Today the RCP plays an important role in improving patient care and shaping public health and is the professional membership body for physicians with 34,000 members and fellows across the globe.
At the College’s Regent’s Park headquarters in central London the Queen will meet staff and members of the medical profession, before unveiling a plaque and a new commemorative charter to mark the anniversary.
To mark the 500th anniversary of the body’s original 1518 royal charter, the College will be organising a series of events throughout 2018.
It has also produced a commemorative RCP500 Charter, to reaffirm the College’s commitment to seek and champion excellence in healthcare – through research, training and support for members of the medical profession.
The Queen laid the foundation stone for the College’s Regent’s Park building in 1964 and the visit comes at the start of a year which will also mark the 70th anniversary of the NHS.