The Prince of Wales toured Penarth's Marie Curie Hospice today (Cardiff and the Vale Hospice) and helped mark the start of the charity's Great Daffodil Appeal, being the first person to sign the Great Big Daffodil.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales paid a special visit to the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale today, helping to celebrate its 60th anniversary year.

The Prince, who has been Patron of the charity since 2003, visited the hospice in Penarth which provides expert care and support to people living with a terminal illness and their families.

The Prince visited the hospice wards where he met several patients and their families as well as hospice staff during a tour alongside Sarah Lloyd-Davies, Hospice Manager, and Matthew Reed, the charity's Chief Executive.

His Royal Highness was greeted by actor and Marie Curie ambassador Suzanne Packer, before unveiling a plaque to mark his visit, made by Glass by Design, and cutting a daffodil-themed cake, made especially by local Michelin-starred chef James Sommerin.

His Royal Highness became the first person to sign the charity's Great Big Daffodil which starts its UK-wide tour in Wales next week in Cwmbran and Cardiff.

The Great Big Daffodil, part of the Great Daffodil Appeal, will give people the opportunity to share stories, memories, messages or tributes of someone special – both the loved ones we've lost and those that are still here.

Marie Curie hopes the Great Big Daffodil will create somewhere for people to take a moment to reflect, remember and pay tribute to those that have been special to them.

Maureen Russell - a patient at the hospice - 97 years old from Rhoose near Barry, was a volunteer cook in the Ladies' Army during World War Two.

She said: "We were due to have a church parade one Sunday while I was in Hastings but on the Saturday night the doodlebugs – that's what we called the bombs – came down so low over the sea and straight into the church. It was a lucky escape."

Maureen met late husband Albert – originally from Llanbradach - in High Wycombe before the war broke out. He served in the RAF throughout the war and for some years later.

When peace came, Maureen and Albert married in 1946. They went on to have six children – Desmond, Patrick, Elizabeth, Jimmy, John and Joanne. Maureen continued to work as a cook in the catholic school her children attended and when the children all moved out, the couple who had previously holidayed in Rhoose moved to the village in the late 1970s.

Maureen was still cooking until she received her diagnosis of bowel cancer last month.

She said: "My favourite thing to cook was always something I could just put in the oven and forget about it. Boiled bacon and cabbage is one, or casseroles."

When she received her diagnosis, her district nurse referred her to Marie Curie's community nursing service, and nurse Elaine saw her at home.

Her daughter and sister-in-law were caring for her until she was admitted to the charity's Cardiff and the Vale Hospice at the weekend.

Maureen described the hospice as "first class" and said: "I could not wish for better, they are all fantastic."

Talking about the visit from His Royal Highness, Maureen said: "He's a nice man and he does his job so well. He seems very down to earth and he held my hand which was nice. I told him to give my regards to his mother, I think she's doing a marvellous job."

Sarah Lloyd-Davies, Hospice Manager at the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff, said: "Welcoming His Royal Highness to the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale is a very special moment for us, at an important time as we're celebrating the hospice's 60th anniversary year.

"It was great to have the opportunity to introduce His Royal Highness to some of our patients, their family, and our hospice staff and volunteers, as well as showcase how the hospice cares for people living with a terminal illness. It was clear to see just how important it is to him that people at the end of life get the care they need.

"As we've just launched our annual flagship fundraising campaign, the Great Daffodil Appeal, it's fitting that His Royal Highness heard personal stories from patients and staff, and took the time to sign our Great Big Daffodil petal, which will start a UK tour next week.

''We couldn't provide the care that we do without the generous support of the public in Penarth and across the country, which is why we're hoping to raise a quarter of a million pounds across Wales during this year's appeal."

Last year the hospice cared for 1,200 people, which costs £8,311 a day in order to continue its work with the NHS and other partners to build and develop the services available to meet the growing palliative and end of life care needs of people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

About the Great Big Daffodil:

This March, Marie Curie, the UK's leading charity for people living with a terminal illness, expects around 8 million people across the UK will choose to wear one of its iconic daffodil pins for its Great Daffodil Appeal – and behind every daffodil is a story.

As part of the Great Daffodil Appeal, Marie Curie wants to give people up and down the country the opportunity to share these stories, memories, messages or tributes, or even simply the name of someone special – both the loved ones we've lost and those that are still here. Marie Curie hopes the Great Big Daffodil will create somewhere for people to take a moment to reflect and remember and pay tribute to those that have been special to them.

The Great Big Daffodil is a 7-foot-tall steel installation, which has been specially designed paper books within its petals. People in seven locations across the UK during the Great Daffodil Appeal will be able to visit the Great Big Daffodil and add to the petals their messages of someone who's been special to them. Everyone will be able to share their pictures and heartfelt messages on social media by tagging @mariecurieuk

The Great Big Daffodil will be travelling more than 1,000 miles around the UK, celebrating the importance of memories in helping us grieve and support a loved one with a terminal illness.

The Great Big Daffodil will visit:

• 28 – 29 February – St David's Dewi Sant, Cardiff

• 5 – 6 March – Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull

• 14 March – Castle Court Shopping Centre, Belfast

• 29 March – The Liverpool Daffodil Walk, Sefton Park