Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said: Her Majesty the Queen gave steadfast support to the NHS throughout her reign and in return she had the admiration and respect of staff right across the health service for her leadership, wisdom and devotion to duty.
Receiving the George Cross from Her Majesty earlier this year was the proudest moment in the NHS's long history.
So it was a huge privilege to represent the NHS at a ceremony which so movingly reflected the enormous sense of loss, but also gratitude for a life well lived, which is felt not just across the health service but our whole country.