Queen Presents NHS with George Cross Award for Covid-19 Efforts

In a ceremony held at the White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle, the Queen presented the National Health Service (NHS) with the George Cross award, one of the highest honours in the UK.

The event recognised the NHS's courage, compassion, and dedication during the pandemic and throughout its 70-plus years of service.

The Queen, who arrived without her walking stick, presented the award personally to NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard and her counterparts from NHS Scotland and NHS Wales, Caroline Lamb and Judith Padgett, respectively.

The Queen was joined by her eldest child, Prince Charles, for the event, which was attended by a frontline worker from each of the Home Nations, including May Parsons, the nurse who delivered the world's first Covid-19 vaccine outside clinical trials to Maggie Keenan on December 8, 2020.

Despite ongoing mobility issues, the Queen was on fine form and was photographed without her walking stick.

Opting for a chic cream dress adorned with purple flowers, the 96-year-old monarch dazzled ceremony attendees.

She finished off her outfit with a pair of black leather heels and her trademark pearls.

When told about the nurse's historic first, Her Majesty made her guests laugh with a quip, “You're still alive!”

When the nurse told the Queen, “We're terribly, terribly proud of the vaccination rollout,” it was met with the Queen's response, “Yes, it was.

Amazing!”

During the ceremony, each health executive from the Four Nations and their frontline colleagues came up in turn to receive a George Cross, which had been placed on a cushion carried by the Queen's echory, Lieutenant Colonel Tom White.

The Queen touched the cushion in a gesture to symbolise its presentation.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon, Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office with responsibility for organising ceremonial events, read out the George Cross citation at the start of the ceremony.

The award of the George Cross by the Queen is made on the advice of the George Cross Committee and the Prime Minister.

This marks only the third occasion on which it has been awarded to a collective body, country or organisation, rather than an individual.

The George Cross was introduced by King George VI on 24 September 1940, during the height of the Blitz.

The outstanding award recognises acts of the greatest heroism or of the most courageous in circumstances of extreme danger.

In 1942, the George Cross was conferred on Malta by George VI, in recognition of the fortitude displayed by the island's inhabitants during enemy bombardments in the Second World War.

And, in 1999, the Queen awarded the George Cross to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Northern Ireland, in recognition of the force's bravery, including the families of those serving.

The most recent recipient of the George Cross is Dominic Trollan, a retired British Army officer and former Royal Marine.

May Parsons, the nurse who famously delivered the world's first Covid-19 vaccination, joined NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard as the health service was awarded the George Cross.

Hailing from University Hospitals' Coventry and Warwickshire Trust, May boldly administered the first vaccine outside of clinical trials to Maggie Keenan on 8 December 2020.

Speaking of her achievement, May said, “I am humbled and honoured to be representing the NHS with Amanda when we are awarded the George Cross.

It takes hundreds of thousands of us to make the NHS what it is today and I am so grateful to be part of it and attending this prestigious event on behalf of such a wonderful team of people from nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants to many, many more.”

Today's engagement at Windsor comes after the Queen recently had her duties scaled back after Buckingham Palace formally rewrote her role.

The move marks the first time Her Majesty's role has been altered significantly in nearly a decade.

One job that the Queen will no longer undertake is the State Opening of Parliament, which was previously considered a constitutional convention.

The Prince of Wales read a speech as the monarch missed the event for the first time in nearly 60 years.

The Queen has missed a number of events of late, citing mobility issues, and responsibilities have frequently been taken on by senior members of the Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Previously, the Queen's duties as Head of State were detailed in a 13-point list, which included the appointment of the Prime Minister and paying and receiving state visits.

In conclusion, the Queen's presentation of the George Cross to the NHS recognises the dedication and hard work of healthcare professionals during the pandemic and throughout the NHS's history.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from each of the Home Nations, highlighting the collective effort of the UK in fighting the pandemic.

May Parsons, who delivered the world's first Covid-19 vaccine, was also present at the ceremony.

The Queen's ongoing mobility issues did not diminish her vivaciousness and she presented the award personally, without her walking stick.

This marks the third occasion on which the George Cross has been awarded to a collective body, country or organisation, rather than an individual.