HM The Queen's speech at Queen Silvia Nursing Award Grand Ceremony

It is with a profound sense of pride and reflection that I address you today.

For more than a decade, the Queen Silvia Nursing Award has stood as a testament to the enduring value of service and ingenuity of nurses working in the fields of geriatric and memory care.

We gather here this afternoon to mark the conclusion of this award’s remarkable journey, and to celebrate the legacy it has created with 56 laureates representing seven countries!

Throughout its history, this award has shone a light on the dignity and dedication of nurses whose contributions have improved the lives of countless individuals and families. The ingenuity and empathy demonstrated by our laureates have advanced care practices for vulnerable older populations and inspired wider engagement and dialogue about brain health. They have also reinforced our shared duty to treat every person with the utmost respect and compassion, regardless of cognitive ability.

To the 2024 ambassadors present today, I extend my warmest wishes for success in all your future endeavours. Your spirit and professional commitment are of immense importance, and I trust that the values you have embodied will guide you well in the years ahead. Nursing remains a cornerstone of our society, and you each play a vital role in supporting communities in their ageing journeys.

As we close this chapter, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who have contributed their support and energy to this initiative. The Queen Silvia Nursing Award would not have been possible without your dedication. I am especially grateful to the teams at Swedish Care International and the Forum for Elderly Care, who led this mission with integrity, and ensured its vision became reality. Your leadership has been exemplary, and your legacy will endure.

Finally, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the main partners of the Queen Siliva Nursing Award: the Medicover Foundation of Poland, Zerhusen und Blömer of Germany, and Addere Care of Lithuania. Your steadfast commitment has been essential to our mission and has made a lasting impact.

Thank you all for being part of this distinguished journey. Let us continue to honour the nursing profession and ensure that those who care for others receive the recognition and respect they so richly deserve.