Prince Harry presents an Invictus Games gold medal to the hospital that helped save a soldier's life in a touching tribute 

They shared an emotional moment last month when she gave back her Invictus gold medal, asking for it to be returned to the hospital that saved her life.

And today Prince Harry kept his promise to Sergeant Elizabeth Marks as he officially handed over her hard-fought prize to members of the Papworth Hospital medical team during a special reception at Kensington Palace.

Harry first met the Arizona-born soldier during the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida last month where she won the 100m freestyle gold medal.

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Prince Harry hands Sgt  Elizabeth Marks' Invictus gold medal to consultant intensivist Dr Alain Vuylsteke, one of the medical staff who treated her when she fell gravely ill in 2014

The royal initially refused to take Sergeant Marks' medal, but she approached him again after the ceremony and this time he accepted, in a touching moment that was captured by cameras at the games (pictured)

However, Elizabeth handed it back in honour of the team who saved her life when she became critically ill in 2014, as a mark of her gratitude for the life-saving care she had received.

It has now travelled more than 4,000 miles to London to be presented to them by the prince. Today, Harry was joined by Papworth's patron Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester as well as staff members including senior nurse Laura Bowden and consultant intensivist Dr Alain Vuylsteke.

When they met for the first time last month, Elizabeth and Harry shared a moving moment after the swimming champion, who sustained hip injuries in Iraq in 2010, gave Harry her 100m freestyle gold medal to pass on to the British hospital that had saved her life.

The royal initially refused to take it, but Elizabeth approached him again and this time he accepted, in a touching moment that was captured on camera.

The 25-year-old soldier's life was saved by Papworth Hospital's medical team in 2014 on the eve of the first Invictus Games after she became gravely ill, collapsed with a serious lung condition and was put into an induced coma.

She told the Paralympics' Team USA website how the day before the team flew out of Washington, D.C., she lost her voice but although she wasn't feeling her best, she attributed it to doing too many interviews.

Harry hands over the gold medal to consultant intensivist Dr Alain Vuylsteke (left), and the other members of the Papworth Hospital medical team who helped save the servicewoman's life

Harry chats to (from left) clinical perfusion scientist Giordano Paiella, senior staff nurse Laura Bowden, and lead ECMO nurse Jo-anne Fowles after presenting them with the gold medal at Kensington Palace

Senior staff nurse Laura Bowden (centre) inspects the gold medal won by Sgt Elizabeth Marks last month

Kensington Palace tweets a picture of Prince Harry presenting Papworth Hospital medical staff the the medal

Elizabeth's life was saved by the British hospital's medical team in 2014 on the eve of the first Invictus Games after she became gravely ill, collapsed with a serious lung condition and was put into an induced coma

However, by the time the plane landed in London, she couldn’t breathe and was taken to the Royal London Hospital and admitted for what they believed was pneumonia. 

Within 24 hours, Elizabeth's health worsened until she fell unconscious, went into respiratory failure and when her lungs filled with fluid had to be put on life support.

She said: 'I landed in London and became very ill very rapidly, I was in hospital in London and went into respiratory distress syndrome, they shipped a team down from Papworth who put me on to ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) life support and that ultimately saved my life.

'And when they did so I was on it for 10 days and ended up waking in an army hospital in Germany having no idea what had happened.

When the athlete regained consciousness she was in the same hospital where she had woken up after being medically evacuated from Iraq four years earlier. 

Harry smiles for a photo with (left to right): Papwroth Hostpital's patron Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, chairman Professor John Wallwork, Consultant Intensivist Dr Alain Vuylsteke, perfusion scientist Giordano Paiella, senior staff nurse Laura Bowden and lead ECMO nurse Jo-anne Fowles

The royal chats to guests after presenting the gold medal to members of Papworth Hospital's medical staff

Harry and the Duchess of Gloucester talk to hospital staff at the special reception at Kensington Palace today

Doctors never determined what caused the illness and although the ECMO saved her life it left her with some neurological impairment.

It also meant that she had less mobility in her legs, which caused her to become eligible for the Paralympics. The length of time on the machine also led to a decrease in lung capacity.

However, the treatment in the UK stayed with Elizabeth so much that she dedicated her win at the Games today to the NHS. 'They absolutely saved my life and I can't thank the UK enough for having that kind of medical support and taking such good care of me.

'So I gave Prince Harry one of my medals and hope it will find its way back to Papworth.'

Fighting back the tears, she paid tribute to her doctors, saying: 'Thank you, I'll never be able to repay you, but what you're doing is wonderful.'

Special moment: Harry first met Arizona-born Elizabeth Marks during the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida last month where he presented her with her the 100m freestyle gold medal

Last month Elizabeth, who sustained hip injuries in Iraq in 2010, gave Harry her 100m freestyle gold medal to pass on to the hospital that saved her life when she arrived in the UK to take part in the 2014 Invictus Games

Sgt Marks, who joined the US army aged 17, suffered a serious hip injury in 2010 in Iraq which left her with no sensation in her left leg. She underwent three surgeries to restructure her hips and regain enough mobility to walk, and swimming was initially part of her rehabilitation.

But she says she soon fell in love with it and after just four months of participating in her first competition she became the first female Paralympic athlete in the US army's World Class Athlete Program (WCAP).

The determined heroine is now looking forward to representing her country in the Rio Olympics this summer but already she's winning golds despite feeling disorientated and struggling with her vision when she's in the water because of lack of oxygen.

She now uses the same tappers as her visually-impaired teammates to let her know when she’s approaching the wall and she also needs to have someone there to help her out of the pool.

Special bond: Prince Harry honoured Elizabeth in a rousing speech at the Invictus closing ceremony, saying: 'What is the force that drives Elizabeth Marks to return to these games after nearly dying two years ago, to compete now, at the highest level, in a sport that renders her blind and faint? Invictus!'

But Elizabeth is making waves in Paralympic circles after winning all four swimming events she entered at the Invictus Games for injured military and veterans.

Sgt Marks, who is married, added: 'It's just an honour to be here and stand next to all the other soldiers, I can't think of anything else I'd rather be.

'I was a little apprehensive, I was nervous because of what had happened last time but I was eager to perform and show my team and show the other countries how much I love their support.

'When I came out of my coma to see all the pictures of them supporting me while I was there, without even knowing I was in that state, made me cry like a baby so it was a chance to give something back.'

In a moving video essay submission to the US veterans contest, the Triumph Games, she said: 'I love the Army. More than the Army, I love soldiers,' adding that, 'sharing my story, passion and experience with other injured or ill soldiers is the most precious gift that my life has been given.'

Prince Harry and Sergeant Marks share a joke in Orlando last month. Swimming was initially part of Elizabeth's rehabilitation after a serious hip injury, but she soon fell in love with it and went on to be an Invictus champion

She related how, 'I met a female soldier and got to share my story about overcoming injury and illness, competing against men, about the mental, physical and emotional struggle that sports has helped me through. The impact will last with me forever. 

'She presented me with a letter and a Soldier’s prayer saying, "I hated life. I had given up. No one believed in me. And then I met you." Because of her words, I will never give up.'

Prince Harry honoured Elizabeth in a rousing speech at the Invictus closing ceremony, saying: 'What is the force that drives Elizabeth Marks to return to these games after nearly dying two years ago, to compete now, at the highest level, in a sport that renders her blind and faint? Invictus!' 

During the games, more than 500 competitors from countries including Italy, Germany, Australia, Estonia, Jordan and the UK and Afghanistan competed in 10 events - archery, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, athletics, wheelchair basketball, rugby and tennis. 

Harry, 31, has said he hopes to bring Invictus to the UK in 2019, completing a five-venue cycle which would see the games return home after being staged in Canada next year and Australia in 2018.