A Firm Favourite! Royal Video Thank-You To Nurses

The Queen led members of her family in a royal first yesterday paying tributes to healthcare workers around the world.

- Richard Palmer

Their video calls to nurses – including in Britain and the Commonwealth – marked International Nurses Day.

Her Majesty was joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Anne, the Countess of Wessex and Princess Alexandra.

Together they rolled out a virtual red carpet for the profession by making telephone or video calls to nurses in the UK, Australia, India, Malawi, Sierra Leone, the Bahamas, Cyprus, and Tanzania over the past few days.

They included what Buckingham Palace believes is the first-ever audio recording of the 94-year-old monarch on the phone.

From Windsor Castle the Queen, who like all working members of the family has been forced to undertake official duties remotely during the virus lockdown, rang Professor Kathleen McCourt, president of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation.

Chorus

She expressed her admiration for the bravery and dedication of the nursing profession during the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is rather an important day,” the Queen said, before agreeing that public recognition of the work of nurses was vital. “Yes, because they’ve obviously had a very important part to play recently.”

Kate spent much of Monday on joint calls with Sophie, Countess of Wessex to nurses in Sierra Leone, Australia, India, Malawi, the Bahamas, and British Army nurses in Cyprus.