Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit King's Lynn hospital as part of NHS 72nd birthday

As thousands of people all over the country paid tribute to the NHS this afternoon with a final round of applause of appreciation, Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital got a very special visit when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge came in person to say thanks to staff.

The founding of the NHS is dated to June 5, 1948, making this the 72nd anniversary.

In this tumultuous year Kate arrived wearing an appropriately coloured outfit, light blue, the colour of the National Health Service.

They were greeted by the chairman of the NHS trust Steve Barnett and Caroline Shaw, the hospital's chief executive officer.

Among the people they sat and talked to in the visit was Suzie Vaughan, the QEH member of staff who became an internet sensation and the face of the sacrifices made by workers when film of her greeting her two daughters after nine weeks away working on ICU, went viral across the world.

Hettie, aged seven, and Bella, nine, were with her to meet the royal visitors.

They also met other members of staff who have worked through the pandemic.

There have been a total of 147 deaths at the QEH of patients diagnosed with Covid-19.