The Beckhams, Daniel Craig, Sir Rod Stewart join nationwide applause to NHS

26 March 2020, 20:26

A host of celebrities including the Beckhams, Daniel Craig and Sir Rod Stewart joined in a nationwide round of applause for NHS staff tackling coronavirus.

Millions of Britons across the country joined together in a moment of thanks at 8pm on Thursday to applaud the brave healthcare staff treating patients suffering from Covid-19.

Joining the tributes was David Beckham, his wife Victoria and three of their children - Romeo, Cruz and Harper, who posted a video from their home.

"Happy to be able to come together with the whole country to thank the brave healthcare workers and our brilliant NHS working tirelessly in the fight against Covid-19," David wrote on Instagram.

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Happy to be able to come together with the whole country to thank the brave healthcare workers and our brilliant NHS working tirelessly in the fight against COVID-19♥️ #ClapForOurCarers @victoriabeckham @romeobeckham @cruzbeckham #HarperSeven

A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) on Mar 26, 2020 at 1:34pm PDT

On the official James Bond Twitter account, actor Daniel Craig and his wife Rachel Weisz shared their appreciation.

They were joined by fellow Bond stars Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris.

Meanwhile, Sir Rod Stewart demonstrated his thanks in a video with his family, and said: "Our family want to say a huge thank you to everyone working in the NHS as well as to all the health care workers and emergency services that are helping keep Britain's families safe in these extremely difficult time."

Capturing the scene from inside an ambulance, Sean and Kate from the London Ambulance Service drove through Kingston as people applauded their passing by.

Kate can be heard shouting in response: "Thank you!"

The Royal Family also led with their tributes, with the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex posting emotional messages on social media.

The Queen said the country is "enormously thankful" for the commitment of all those working in science, health and the emergency and public services, as the royal family joined the Clap for Carers public display.

In the message posted on the royal family's official Instagram account, the Queen said: "We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services."

The post featured a video of the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn, who all clapped after Edward paid tribute to workers.

He said: "So from all of us just a huge thank you to so many of you working on the frontline - you're really appreciated keep up the fantastic work."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge posted a video of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis clapping, with the message: "To all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by #COVID19: thank you."

Harry and Meghan posted a moving message on Instagram, thanking those working so hard to fight the pandemic and saying they were “applauding from across the pond.”

Their message said: “Thank you for all that you continue to do! Applauding you from across the pond #clapforourcarers #NHS”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: "On behalf of the whole country, I want to thank all the incredible nurses, doctors, NHS support staff & carers who are working flat out to fight coronavirus ?? #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForNHS To help them, and protect the NHS, we need everyone to stay at home #StayHomeSaveLives"

Boats whistle out on the River Tyne in support of NHS workers

Touching footage showed people standing on their doorsteps to clap, cheer and make noise amid the pandemic, which has claimed 578 lives in the UK alone.

Meanwhile notable buildings were lit up in blue for the salute as part of the #lightitblue campaign which has been organised by members of the events and entertainment industry as a way to say thank you.

People on Bristol's harbourside stood on their balconies and at their windows to clap and cheer as the nearby church bells chimed at 8pm.

The sound of pots and pans being clanged could be heard, as well as triangles being struck and cars and boats honking their horns.

Other people to join the applause included Scotland’s chief medical officer.

In Birmingham’s jewellery quarter, workers took to the streets to applaud, cheer and rattle pans to celebrate.

Elsewhere, including Brentwood in Essex fireworks were set off.

In a street in Newham, Nottinghamshire, people came out of their doors one by one to clap in honour of the NHS.

In a branch of Asda in Accrington Lancashire, staff stood two metres apart for a special round of applause.

There was riotous noise with the sound of clapping, pans and boats sounding their horns on the Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead and applause echoed through the narrow streets of the small villages of Cambridgeshire.

In the centre of Manchester, applause rang out through the empty streets and blocks of flats as people throughout the UK took the time to honour people helping the UK overcome the coronavirus crisis.

Clapping, cheering, sirens and car horns were heard outside St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, south London.

One taxi driver who stopped outside had decorated his car with the message: "Thank u NHS hero's."

Lorraine Carney, 49, and husband Paul, 51, were among a handful of people who clapped and cheered while stood spaced out on a green across the road from the hospital.

Mrs Carney, who said the couple lived two roads away, said: "I was quite emotional."

"I have had four children and when they have been poorly I have been up here and they have helped us all the way through.

"I had all my four children here and my four grandchildren have been born here."