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Prince Harry returns American swimmer's medal to British hospital that saved her

The Invictus swimmer had asked Prince Harry to deliver her gold medal to the hospital she credits for saving her life two years ago.
/ Source: TODAY

Prince Harry promised an American veteran he would personally thank the British hospital that saved her life. During a meeting Wednesday at Kensington Palace, he kept his word.

Prince Harry gives Invictus gold medal to Papworth Hospital staff
Prince Harry after presenting a 2016 Invictus Gold medal to members of Britain's Papworth Hospital. The medal was earned by U.S. Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Mark, who wanted to thank the hospital for saving her life.Matt Dunham / AP

At the request of Sgt. Elizabeth Marks, Prince Harry delivered one of the Army medic's Invictus gold medals to the staff of Papworth Hospital.

It was one of four medals Marks won for swimming during last month's Invictus Games, the international Paralympic-style competition founded by Prince Harry for wounded service members.

Prince Harry
Prince Harry speaks after presenting the gold medal Elizabeth Marks won in last month's Invictus Games to the medical team from Papworth Hospital who treated her.Matt Dunham / AP

In one of the many memorable moments from the Orlando games, Marks rushed after the prince following the award ceremony and asked him to take the medal back home with him to London.

RELATED: American swimmer to Prince Harry: Give British hospital my Invictus gold medal

"Once the race was over, he awarded me the medal, I think he knew I was going to hand it to him but he still was surprised that I wanted to give away my gold medal,” Marks said at the time.

Prince Harry presents  USA Invictus Team Member Elizabeth Marks with a Gold Medal at the swimming pool.
Prince Harry awarding American Sgt. Elizabeth Marks with a gold medal on May 11, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.Getty Images

Papworth Hospital came to her rescue two years ago when she arrived in London to compete in the first Invictus Games. Marks became ill after landing and ended up with a near-fatal lung condition.

On Wednesday, Prince Harry met with the Papworth medical team that Marks credits for saving her life. and expressed his own gratitude for their work.

“From all of us, it's just a huge, huge thank you to all of you,” he said.

Marks, an Iraq veteran who lost all feeling in her left leg from a 2010 injury, developed a special bond with the prince after their exchange, but she brushed it off as part of Harry’s well-known dedication to veterans.

Prince Harry and Elizabeth Marks
Marks, handing back her gold medal to the prince, asking him to give it to Papworth Hospital.Getty Images

“He's like a brother in arms and he's the big brother of the Invictus Games so I think it is just a comfortable camaraderie,” she said.

RELATED: Prince Harry describes Invictus Games inspiration in interview with Jenna Bush Hager

Marks now has her sights to winning a few more gold medals. She hopes to represent the United States at the Paralympic Games in Rio. She currently holds the 100-meter breaststroke world record.

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