The Prince of Wales gave military fund-raisers the royal seal of approval during his visit to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Prince Charles visited the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine to boost the morale of the 23 injured British servicemen being treated on the military ward.

And during his trip he congratulated the elite military team, who took part in the gruelling Bastion 2 Birmingham challenge on treadmills and exercise bikes in the hospital foyer on Sunday.

They completed 3,580-miles, the distance between Camp Bastion in Afghanistan and Birmingham, in less than 48 hours in support of charities which help British troops wounded in Afghanistan.

He personally congratulated each of the 20-strong team, which included rugby legend Jason Robinson.

Robinson, a key member of England’s World Cup wining team in 2003, said: “It was great to meet Prince Charles after we finished.

“It was the icing on the cake and a real nice boost for all those took part in the challenge.”

Sergeants Chris Armstrong and Jo Jackson, from the Royal Army Training Corps, organised the event and recruited the participating athletes.

Sgt Armstrong said: “We specifically timed the event to finish during his visit because we knew it would give us extra motivation and would help with the fund raising.”

Organisers hope the challenge will raise more than £10,000 for military charities, including the hospital’s military patient’s fund.

Matron Geraldine Folliard, from Solihull, spoke briefly with Prince Charles before he toured the hospital.

She said: “He was very friendly, approachable and seemed to know a lot about the trust.”

Squadron Leader Chris Stagles, the adjutant of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, praised Prince Charles for showing a keen interest in those severely wounded in Afghanistan in recent years.

Estimating that the heir to the throne had paid around four visits a year to troops being treated in Birmingham, Sqn Ldr Stagles said: “He’s a really great supporter of all of the work that’s done here.

“There are some patients he will see on multiple visits and he remembers them and takes a real personal interest.”

And injured soldier Callum Brown, who lost his legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan serving with the Second Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, met the Prince for the fourth time.

The 23-year-old from Ayrshire said: “It’s great to have that kind of support from such a dignitary.

“I know from previous visits how much it lifts those on the military ward.”

The Prince of Wales also took time to chat to members of the public outside the hospital.

• Money raised by the Bastion2Brum challenge is being split between the military patients’ fund within the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor the event can make a donation by visiting www.justgiving.com/bastion2brum.