Dressed in a long green coat and matching scarf, the Princess spent more than an hour looking around the Minerva Centre, which was built beneath the new Invincibles Pavilion stand at Deepdale.

She was greeted by NHS chief Joe Rafferty, PNE chairman Derek Shaw and millionaire businessman Sir Trevor Hemmings, before chatting to dozens of doctors, patients and NHS staff who will use the new facilities.

As she unveiled a plaque marking the official opening, the Princess Royal told guests that the Minerva set the standard for other health centres.

She said: "It's rather an original concept and I hope you all set an example which other people will come to look at.

"With you and your hosts at the football club, it's been an inspired coming together of interests and ideas and I hope everybody will enjoy using it when it is completely open."

The Princess also chatted to carers from Preston Carers Centre, diabetes patients and community support groups.

She was presented with a copy of a painting of fruit by Ayeesha Patel, 13, who will have her work displayed in a waiting room after winning an art competition.

Our Lady's Catholic High pupil Ayeesha, of Fulwood, said: "I did it in school and my teacher just said we were entering a competition.

"I didn't know anything about meeting Princess Anne then and was really surprised when she told me I was going to meet her."

As well as facilities for treating long-term conditions such as diabetes and chronic fatigue, the Minerva features a cafe and a lifestyle centre where people can get advice on living more healthily.

Support will also be provided for unemployed people looking to get back into work.

Joe Rafferty, NHS Central Lancashire's chief executive, said: "Modern healthcare is about more than just treating people once they become ill.

"It's about equipping people with the knowledge and support they need to help safeguard their health for years to come."

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