The Queen has awarded the George Cross to the entire NHS, making public a handwritten note in which she praises the “courage, compassion and dedication” of health workers over more than 70 years.
It’s a political award and not a directly Royal one. Boris and mates, not Brenda. She signs, not decides here.
It diminishes all other awards of the GC. As always happens with titles and medals of course. Precisely the value and honour accruing to some really especial gong means that the politicians will, over time demean it.
Duke used to mean war leader, war leader in a real top dog way, the bloke who directed ‘fousands to protect the homeland against Johnny Foreigner. It became the go to title for spare royal bastards requiring a name. A knighthood meant actual prowess in battle, prowess at something at least. Now it goes to whichever civil servant greets Brenda on an overseas trip.
There was hope that GC and VC could avoid that, stay above that fray. And sadly politics doesn’t work that way, does it?