Children and young adults from Helen and Douglas House had a day to remember when the Emperor and Empress of Japan called in yesterday.

They visited the East Oxford hospice, which cares for patients with life-shortening conditions, during a three-day UK tour.

They were greeted at the door of Helen House, in Leopold Street, by hospice founder Sister Frances Dominica, the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Hugo Brunner, and members of the care staff.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko had earlier met students during a visit to Oxford University's Trinity College, in Broad Street, before travelling across the city to the hospice.

Stephanie Castelete, 12, accompanied by her parents and brother Alex, presented the Empress with flowers when she arrived.

The visitors met parents who had benefited from the services the hospice offers.

They included Suzy and Steve Gibbard, from Abingdon, who brought their 10-month-old daughter Molly to Helen House after she died in January last year.

The Gibbards had brought a photograph of Molly with them and chatted to the Empress about their daughter.

Mr Gibbard said: "She was very sympathetic and very gentle.

"She was pleased to see the picture of Molly and told us she hoped we found comfort in Helen House."

Japan does not yet have hospices for children and young people.

But there is a growing interest to introduce the concept.

Mr Gibbard said Helen House had been a lifeline to them and he hoped that other countries would follow suit.

The Emperor and Empress were then taken to Douglas House, which cares for young adults, in Magdalen Road, and treated to a performance from trumpeter Alison Balsom.

Afterwards, they met young people, including twins Laura and Judith Merry, 18, from Worminghall, near Thame.

The twins had met them in 2005, when they and other young people from the hospice went to Japan with Sister Frances, at the invitation of the health care charity Momiji.

Laura said she hoped the visit would encourage Japan to introduce hospices like Douglas House. She added: "It would be a great idea."

Sister Frances, thanking the Emperor and Empress for their visit, told them: "When I said perhaps one day you'd visit us in England, I never dreamed it would be possible.

"But thank you for making our dreams come true and for all the joy that you've given us today by being with us."

In 1989, following the death of Emperor Hirohito, Emperor Akihito acceded to the throne as the 125th Emperor of Japan.

He married Michiko Shoda, daughter of a distinguished businessman, in 1959. The Emperor is said to be "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people".