Venues in England and Wales which usually close at 11pm will be able to keep serving for an extra two hours on Thursday May 8.

Charles wrote a personal message reflecting on his diagnosis and praising the work of cancer charities, ahead of hosting a Palace reception.

The Prince and Princess of Wales chatted to the celebrity as they ended their two-day visit to the Scottish isles.

Economy minister Yulia Svyrydenko is currently in Washington for the final co-ordination of the agreement’s technical details, sources said.