HOSPITAL bosses in Southampton have backed the decision by the Duchess of Cornwall to pull out of her first solo public duty in the city.

The Duchess was due to tour Southampton General Hospital next Monday on what would have been her first solo engagement since her marriage to the Prince of Wales.

However, the visit has been postponed until some time after the General Election.

Clarence House has rejected claims that the Duchess was suffering from nerves and could not face the public without Prince Charles by her side.

A spokesman said it would be "insensitive" for a senior member of the royal family to visit the hospital in the run-up to the election.

He added: "Going to a hospital when health is one of the key election issues was considered inappropriate during the election period."

However, the Duke of York visited Wrexham General Hospital last Wednesday to open a cancer unit and the Princess Royal is due to tour St Mary's Hospital, Paddington on May 5 - election day itself.

The spokesman claimed that different engagements were viewed in different ways.

He said rumours that the Duchess had postponed her visit because Prince Charles would be abroad next week and unable to accompany her were "absolutely 100 per cent completely wrong".

Southampton University Hospital Trust is supporting her decision to postpone the trip.

Spokesman Peter Campion said: "The Duchess is hoping to make a visit at some time in the future and we will be delighted to see her, whenever the visit takes place.

"Any comment about her plans or activities must come from Clarence House."

Asked if the hospital was disappointed that the Duchess had postponed her visit Mr Campion said: "No, because we know she hopes to come here in the future."

The Duchess, 57, was due to visit the hospital in her capacity as patron of the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS).

A spokesman for the Southampton branch of the charity said: "She has been a marvellous patron of the NOS and has raised a lot of money on our behalf. A member of her family had the disease, which doubtless makes her very sympathetic to our cause.

"I'm quite sure she will visit the hospital at a later date. She would not renege on something she had agreed to do - she's not that sort of person."

The spokesman revealed that the Duchess paid a private visit to the hospital five years ago.

She added: "I found her to be a delightful woman - very pleasant and very genuine."