Queen Elizabeth receives Britain’s National Health Service award the George Cross

As Prince Harry and Prince William continue to court attention for their ongoing feud, the Queen was awarded a new honour.

The Queen was awarded Britain’s National Health Service the George Cross, in recognition of 73 years of dedicated service, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The George Cross is the highest civilian gallantry award and has only been bestowed collectively twice before.

It is awarded for “acts of the greatest heroism or of the most courage in circumstances of extreme danger”.

“This award recognises all NHS staff, past and present, across all disciplines and all four nations,” the Queen, 95, said in the handwritten personal message on Windsor Castle-headed paper that accompanied the award.

“Collectively, over more than seven decades, they have supported the people of our country with courage, compassion and dedication, demonstrating the highest standards of public service.

Queen Elizabeth, right, pictured with the Duchess of Cambridge. Picture: AFP

“You have the enduring thanks and heartfelt appreciation of us all,” she added.

The award comes amid outcry from NHS workers over pay and working conditions, with many pushed close to breaking point during the pandemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was in hospital with Covid in April last year, said he had “witnessed their courage first-hand”, saying Britain wouldn’t “be where we are today without our health services”.

“I know the whole of the UK is behind me in paying tribute and giving thanks for everything the NHS has done for us not only in the last year, but since its inception,” he added.

NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens said the honour recognised the skill of staff in responding to the worst pandemic in a century.

“Out of those dark times have come the best of what it means to be a carer and a health professional,” he said.

“In the face of adversity we have seen extraordinary team work, not just across the NHS but involving hundreds of thousands of volunteers, millions of carers, key workers and the British public who have played an indispensable role in helping the health service to look after many hundreds of thousands of seriously ill patients with coronavirus.”

The George Cross was first bestowed collectively to the people of Malta in 1942 by King George VI, and to the Royal Ulster Constabulary by the Queen in 1999.

Originally published as Queen Elizabeth receives Britain’s National Health Service award the George Cross