Staff at St George’s Hospital were surprised and delighted to receive a call from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to say that Her Majesty the Queen wanted to donate some flowers to us.

Yesterday afternoon, a driver from the palace arrived with a large delivery of beautifully scented flowers accompanied by a letter to the trust’s chief executive, Miles Scott, conveying the Queen’s warmest good wishes to all staff, patients and voluntary groups at the hospital.

The flowers were used at a state banquet given by Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening and had enough bloom left in them to give pleasure to those working at and visiting the hospital.

Their colour and scent now fill the reception areas around the hospital and in the St George’s Charity office.