George from Oakwood, Middlesex, thanked the Queen for visiting the hospital, of which she is patron, and presented her with a bouquet of flowers.

It's been nice for him but to be honest he just wants to get back to school

Kim Davies

George had said he was nervous about meeting the Queen, but his father thought he enjoyed it.

John Slee, 40, said: "I think it's wonderful for him and, like all the other children in here, he is such a brave lad and just tries to get on with it."

'Doing well'

After touring the cardiac unit the Queen visited intensive care, where she met patients undergoing the latest treatments.

A day after having part of a lung removed nine-year-old Alex Davies, told the Queen he was doing well.

Alex has a condition that left him with only 15% breathing capacity in the affected lung and his operation was the first of its kind to be carried out on a child.

Alex's mother, Kim, 32, said he was recovering well from the operation and was pleased to meet the Queen.

She said: "It's been nice for him but to be honest he just wants to get back to school."

Great Ormond Street treats 100,000 patients a year, and was started under the reign of Queen Victoria, the first patron of the hospital.