It is royal by name, and now a hospital radio station is royal by nature after receiving a special message from the Queen.

Like the monarch, Bradford Royal Infirmary’s Radio Royal is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee and 60 years of providing entertainment and comfort to thousands of patients.

A special celebration event is planned for later in the year, but the volunteers at the station, based in Field House on the hospital site, have been boosted by a letter on behalf of the Queen, congratulating them on their efforts over the years. The letter, signed by the Queen’s lady-in-waiting Susan Hussey, said the monarch was “interested to hear” the station was set up in 1952 by Robert Morris.

“I am to send you, the staff, patients, nurses and volunteers of Radio Royal, Her Majesty’s good wishes on your 60th anniversary, and thank you very much for your kind message of loyalty and support for the Queen in this, her Diamond Jubilee year,” the letter said.

George Sumner, chairman of Radio Royal, said the station’s volunteers, who number about a dozen, are delighted with the royal response.

“We’re chuffed to get the letter,” he said.

“How many thousands of people must be writing to her this year?

“To get a letter back is really nice.”

And Mr Sumner, 63, says Radio Royal is going from strength to strength having originally started with a gramophone, a couple of speakers and a small collection of current hits.

New figures show four times as many patients listen to the service than watch or listen to any other station on offer at the hospital and Mr Sumner says it reflects how much good the station does.

“It helps distract patients from why they are in hospital and take their mind off it even for just a short while,” he said.

“It helps on the road to recovery and a lot of people who volunteer here now have been patients in the hospital and wanted to put something back in.”

As part of the Radio Royal 60-year celebrations, Mr Sumner is hoping to trace as many volunteers who have worked on the station over the years as possible.

If you have been a part of the Radio Royal during the past 60 years, call Mr Sumner on 07969 231510.