Queen Elizabeth Sends Flowers, Note To Hospital That Cared For Husband Prince Philip: Report

Queen Elizabeth II paid tribute to the staff of the London hospital that took care of husband Prince Philip during his recent hospitalization.

On Tuesday, Her Majesty sent a bouquet of flowers and a special note to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where the 99-year-old Duke of Edinburgh underwent a heart operation earlier this month, People reported. This was the Queen's way of marking National Day of Reflection, which was initiated by the Marie Curie charity to mark the one-year anniversary of the U.K.'s first pandemic lockdown.

Photos of the bouquet were shared on the royal family Twitter account, showing that it included irises, tulips, mini daffodils and ranunculus. It was delivered straight from Windsor Castle, where the Queen and Prince Philip have stayed during the lockdowns, USA Today reported.

In her note, meanwhile, the Queen acknowledged the work of the hospital staff and frontline workers in general amid the pandemic.

"As we look forward to a brighter future together, today we pause to reflect on the grief and loss that continues to be felt by so many people and families, and pay tribute to the immeasurable service of those who have supported us all over the last year," the monarch wrote, as quoted by People.

The hospital also thanked the Queen following her kind gesture.

"I would like to thank Her Majesty for these beautiful flowers and I’m delighted to accept the bouquet on behalf of the hospital and for everyone being remembered on this day of national reflection," St. Bartholomew’s chief executive, Charles Knight, said in a statement.

Prince Philip was hospitalized in February, the same week Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they would not be returning to their royal duties. Concerns over the Sussexes' interview and her husband's health reportedly made that week extra challenging for the monarch.

"It’s been a rough few weeks for the queen, that’s for sure. The situation with Harry and Meghan has been challenging, and on top of that, she’s distraught over her beloved husband’s health setback," an unnamed royal source told Us Weekly last month.

Some had questioned the timing of the airing of the interview in the wake of Prince Philip's hospitalization. Gayle King later said that they would have postponed the airing had Prince Philip's condition worsened.

"Just so you know, they had done that interview before Prince Philip went into the hospital," she said. "And if something, God forbid, had happened to him, the interview would not have run at this particular time. But the interview was done and was scheduled before he went into the hospital."

On March 16, Prince Philip was finally released after a month-long stay in the hospital. He was escorted out in a wheelchair and into the backseat of a BMW before they headed to Windsor Castle, Vanity Fair reported.