Queen Elizabeth II

Following the sad passing of our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, we want to reflect and give thanks for her life and the years of support and dedication Her Late Majesty gave us here at Moorfields. Royal connections and royal patronage go back to the early days of Moorfields. Here is a reminder of the long-term relationship we have had with Her Late Majesty The Queen over many years. March 1955 Queen Elizabeth II's first royal visit On 7 March 1955, the hospital was honoured by a visit from its Patron, Her Majesty the Queen to mark our 150 th anniversary. Her majesty spent a long time at the hospital visiting many areas, including the children's ward, theatres and the outpatient departments and taking tea in the board room where she talked with hospital staff. One of the Moorfields characters the Queen met was 81-year-old Nellie Atkins who had worked at the hospital as a cleaner for 35 years. October 1988 Opening of the refurbished City Road Hospital The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the hospital for the official inauguration of the refurbished hospital at City Road on 26 October 1998. June 1999 Grand Open Day - marking our century at City Road Her Majesty The Queen visited the hospital, meeting staff and touring theatres and departments. Her Majesty also performed the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and our famous eye clock. 2007 The opening of the Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre (RDCEC) Memories from former staff members Mally Scrutton, former paediatric matron Mally Scrutton, former paediatric matron, met the Queen in 2007 for the opening of the Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre (RDCEC). Mally said: "I was working the day The Queen opened the RDCEC. It was quite the event. I remember the security and protocol to this day. It was great to have The Queen as Moorfields' Patron and it's certainly a day many of us will remember. There were photos in OK magazine at the time, and they're still there on the ward 14 years later." Anita Aubrey, former senior service improvement manager, shares some fond memories of meeting The Queen. 1988 "I was a junior staff nurse when the Queen came to visit - she came to the old children's ward on the third floor on MEH. The children had all drawn pictures for her in the old playroom. I was there when she was handed them and she promptly gave them to her lady in waiting for safekeeping." 2007 "I remember the visit very well and very fondly, down to the planning, thinking who to invite and seeing the snipers on the buildings around the RDCEC. I had the privilege of actually being introduced to Her Majesty by our then CEO, meeting her and showing her around the children's ward on the first floor of RDCEC. "I also introduced her to some of our families and children - and I even got my practiced courtesy wrong! We had to carefully write our biography which was sent to Buckingham Palace before the visit. "I have very fond recollections of The Queen and her visits. She will be missed."