Britain's Prince Charles has praised the "remarkable" work done by the Samaritans.
The 66-year-old royal met some of the "brilliant volunteers" at the charity - which provides emotional support to anyone in distress or struggling to cope - during a visit to the Wolverhampton branch in the West Midlands and thanked them for their hard work and dedication.
He said: "Have a happy Christmas, as I understand you are on duty then as well.
"It is a remarkable organisation, and the whole thing depends on the brilliant volunteers like yourselves.
"I cannot thank you enough, for what it's worth, for all the effort and dedication that you put in."
Catherine Johnstone, Samaritans chief executive, said she was delighted Charles had been able to meet with the charity's "remarkable volunteers", who provide "vital frontline services for those with nowhere to turn".
Among those who Charles met were 25-year-old Samantha Pittaway - the youngest branch director in the organisation - 88-year-old volunteer Peter Burt and Patricia Stratton, who has been with the charity for 32 years.
Last year, the prince visited a central London branch of the Samaritans.
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