WEST Somerset enjoyed a double dose of royal fever with the official opening of two major new developments this week.

Hot on the heels of celebrations for the marriage of the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the district welcomed the Duke of Gloucester to cut the ribbon on Minehead's £25.5 million community hospital and a new £300,000 joint cadet centre in the town.

The duke, who had fitted in a trip to Italy in between attending the royal wedding and his visit to West Somerset, also had the chance to indulge his interest in transport - and in particular railways.

He travelled to Minehead on a special West Somerset Railway steam train, riding on the footplate of the King Arthur Class locomotive the Sir Lamiel from Bishops Lydeard to Crowcombe Heathfield.

At Minehead, the duke, who was accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Lady Elizabeth Gass and a number of WSR staff, representatives and volunteers, was given a tour of the workshop and station.

He also unveiled a plaque to commemorate the WSR's 35th anniversary this year.

And after watching the station's turntable in action with the newly restored Braunton locomotive, he was presented with a model of the engine.

WSR general manager Paul Conibeare said the visit had gone like clockwork.

"The sun shone, the West Somerset countryside looked spectacular and we even saw some deer in the fields," he said.

"It was a wonderful day. A lot of work went on behind the scenes but it was well worth it and we're very pleased with how it went."

At the hospital, the duke was given an hour-long tour of the 19-bed facility and met patients. NHS staff and managers, hospital fundraisers and civic dignitaries.

The hospital boasts outpatient clinics, X-ray and diagnostic services, a day surgery unit, a 24-hour minor injury unit and day facilities with mental ill health and rehabilitation services.

It has also been designed to host new mobile health services, such as the county's first mobile chemotherapy unit, with Minehead cancer patient Hilary May the first in Somerset to benefit from this service earlier this year.

Jane Barrie, chairman of NHS Somerset said she was honoured that the duke had officially opened the new unit.

"Patients, staff, hospital 'Friends' and the whole community have eagerly awaited the development of the new hospital," she said.

"Now it is fully open and treating patients we know we have a hospital fit for the 21st century and the delivery of modern healthcare."

And hospital matron Sue Meade said everyone had been thrilled by the duke's visit.

"He was very impressed with the design of the new hospital, enjoyed talking with patients on Exmoor ward and commended the quality of the artwork by West Somerset Community College students."

The duke's final duty was to open a cadet centre in Townsend Road, which was only completed last month and which now provides a combined base for local air and army cadets.

Despite arriving half an hour early, the 50 or so cadets and their officers, along with pupils from the nearby Minehead Middle School, were ready and waiting to welcome their royal visitor.

He toured the purpose-built facilities, which include accommodation for both units, classrooms, stores and a parade area.

The duke was escorted by the Somerset Army Cadet Force's commandant, Colonel Paul Richardson and the Devon and Somerset Air Cadets' commanding officer Wing Commander Brian Wills-Pope.

And after talking to cadets and staff, he was able to view displays showing the many aspects of cadet training, from field craft and survival training, map reading and camp craft to first aid and shooting.

He was also given the chance to have a go on a flight simulator, enjoying a ten minute airborne jaunt before crashing.

Finally, the duke unveiled his third commemorative plaque of the day, commending the dedication and time given by the volunteer adult instructors of both cadet services.

Wing Commander Wills-Pope said the visit had been wonderful.

"It was first class. The duke was genuinely interested in the centre and what it had to offer young people locally."

Funded entirely by the Ministry of Defence, Wing Commander Wills-Pope said the building of the joint centre showed the MoD's commitment to investing in the development of good citizenship in the youth of the country."