We report the structural and magnetic properties of the endohedral metallofullerene Ce@C-82. A hexagonal close packing phase [P6(3)/mmc [a = 11.1544 Angstrom, c = 18.2256 Angstrom] is formed exclusively after vacuum annealing of the solvent precipitated compound. In contrast, sublimed Ce@C82 was found to be dominantly face-centred cubic close packed [Fm-3m; a = 15.7668 Angstrom]. X-ray powder profile calculations revealed that the endohedral cerium atom lies close to 1.8 Angstrom, from the C-82 cage centre in both phases. Hexagonal Ce@C-82 has been investigated by magnetic susceptibility measurements. Paramagnetic behaviour is maintained down to 2K attributable to Ce3+ ions. Towards lower temperatures, the observed paramagnetic moment falls from the free ion Ce3+(mu(eff) = 2.54 mu B) value, monotonically approaching 1 mu B at 2K.