'If I kneel down I'll never get up again, Ma'am': Captain Sir Tom Moore shares joke with the Queen as she knights at Windsor Castle - just hours after she attended Princess Beatrice's wedding
National hero Captain Sir Tom Moore has today been knighted by the Queen who arrived straight from the wedding of her granddaughter Princess Beatrice in an unprecedented personal ceremony in recognition of his £33million fundraising effort for the NHS.
The Second World War veteran's extraordinary year was capped as Her Majesty dubbed him a knight with her father, George VI's sword, in a unique ceremony held outside for the first time ever to lower the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Staged in the imposing setting of Windsor Castle's quadrangle, the ceremony saw the 100-year-old former Army officer joined by his family.
The Queen has been shielding at her Berkshire home for much of the lockdown with the Duke of Edinburgh, and the event was her first face-to-face royal engagement with a member of the public since March.
Her Majesty left her granddaughter Prince Beatrice's wedding to stage the rare outdoor investiture, with her arrival announced by the sound of bagpipes played by the Queen's Piper, Pipe Major Richard Grisdale, of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The Queen spoke to Sir Tom briefly and then the family gathered around for a chat with her too. The Queen said: 'A hundred is a great age.' Sir Tom responded: '‘You’ve a long way to go yet’. The Queen was also heard saying: 'Anyway it's a nice day. Best of luck to you.'
Just hours earlier the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and other close family attended the unannounced wedding of their granddaughter Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a nearby chapel.
The Queen, who was still in the same outfit she had worn to Beatrice's wedding, told Sir Tom and his family the wedding was 'very nice', adding: 'My granddaughter got married this morning both Philip and I managed to get there - very nice.'
The Queen hosted the informal ceremony and spent around five minutes chatting to Sir Tom and his family, praising the veteran as she said: 'Thank you so much, an amazing amount of money you raised.'
Before the ceremony, Sir Tom had joked as he left his Bedfordshire home: 'If I kneel down I'll never get up again.'
Her Majesty beamed as she bestowed the honour upon the 100-year-old veteran
The Queen, 94, chatted animatedly with Sir Tom and his family at the unprecedented personal ceremony held at Windsor Castle
Proud family: Sir Tom with his family, from left: Colin Ingram-Moore, Benjie Ingram-Moore, Sir Tom Moore, Hannah Ingram-Moore and Georgia Ingram-Moore
Before the ceremony, Sir Tom had joked as he left his Bedfordshire home: 'If I kneel down I'll never get up again.'
Sir Tom was joined by his family for the ceremony, which comes after he was dubbed the nation's hero for his fundraising efforts
Sir Tom laughed and joked with onlookers after the knighthood ceremony held in his honour
Colonel Tom received the Knighthood as he was joined by his grandson Benji, daughter Hannah and granddaughter Georgia
Captain Sir Tom Moore was knighted by the Queen in recognition of his outstanding achievement raising almost £33 million for the NHS
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave welcomed Sir Tom into the quadrangle while they waited for the Monarch
The 100-year-old Second World War veteran earned himself a knighthood after raising £33 million for health service charities
Captain Moore is pictured front centre during his days in the Army. He joined the Armed Forces in 1940 when he was aged 20
The Queen is spotted leaving the royal Lodge at Windsor after the wedding of her granddaughter Princess Beatrice to meet Capt Tom Moore for his knighting
After the ceremony Sir Tom had a refreshment break inside the castle and returned to the quadrangle full of vigour and gave a series of interviews to the waiting press.
He said: 'I am absolutely overawed, this is such a high award and to get it from Her Majesty as well - what more can anyone wish for? This has been an absolutely magnificent day for me.'
Asked what was better, raising more than £30million or having the Queen 'break her lockdown' to award him the honour, Sir Tom replied: 'The money is very useful but you've only one Queen and when you get a message from the Queen there's no value that can be placed on that.'
The veteran went on to say: 'To meet the Queen was more than anyone could expect, never ever did I imagine I would get so close to the Queen and have such a kind message from her, that was really outstanding, it was truly outstanding.'
Sir Tom took the media questions in his stride but when he was asked to reveal the personal message from the Queen he remained tight lipped.
'No. That's between the Queen and I,' he said 'I don't think I'll tell anybody what she said, it was just the Queen and I speaking privately and it was a great honour for me to be able to speak to her at all.'
Sir Tom thanked his supporters who helped him raise the massive total for the NHS, something he said the Queen highlighted: 'She did mention the money and she thought it was a magnificent sum to raise.'
Reflecting on the journey that has taken him from local fundraiser to a knighthood he said: 'When you think that about four months ago I was just Tom Moore, now I'm Sir Tom Moore, no one could ever have believed that, in that time it would happen to me.
'I've been really honoured that this should happen and I'm thrilled that it did happen, and thank you everyone who subscribed to the fund - I really appreciate it and thank you all very much.'
At the end of his press interviews Sir quipped 'is that all?' after being told he had answered his last question.
And when a journalist said it was probably too hot for him in the sun he looked down at his wartime medals and joked 'all this metal work reflects the heat'.
Sir Tom answered one last question to reveal he and the 94-year-old monarch had talked about ages: 'She did mention I'm 100 and I said to her ''well you've a long way to go yet'', so she's alright.'
The monarch was joined in the quadrangle by the Master of the Household, retired Vice Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, who carried the insignia of Knight Bachelor, while one of the Queen's Pages was entrusted with King George VI's sword.
Waiting was Sir Tom and his family - daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore, son-in-law Colin Ingram, grandson Benjie and granddaughter Georgia.
As the head of state chatted she was overheard telling the former Army captain who celebrated becoming a centenarian a few months ago: 'One hundred is a great age.'
The talk turned to national events and the coronavirus and the Queen, who has been sheltering at Windsor with Philip asked: 'Have you been shut up - been isolating?'
The family of the fundraising hero described the Queen's decision to give him his knighthood in a unique private ceremony as 'the icing on the cake' of his achievements.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: 'Arise Sir Tom! So richly deserved - you have inspired the whole nation with your fantastic fundraising efforts.'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'Congratulations Sir Tom! Thank you for your incredible fundraising efforts through this crisis and for being an inspiration to so many.'
The 100-year-old Second World War veteran earned himself a knighthood after raising £33 million for health service charities.
Sir Tom won the hearts of the nation and the donations came flooding in after he set out on his challenge to walk 100 lengths of his Bedfordshire garden before his 100th birthday earlier this year.
While other investitures due to be held at Buckingham Palace in London and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh in June and July were postponed, a special exception was made for Sir Tom.
The Prime Minister previously called Sir Tom a 'point of light in our lives' as he thanked him for pulling the nation together through the coronavirus pandemic.
A post on Captain Sir Tom Moore's official Twitter account this morning shared a picture of him wearing his campaign medals ahead of the ceremony.
It read: 'Good Morning! Ready and raring to go for what is a very special day. Thank you for all the well wishes, as ever, overwhelmed by your support. #todaywillbeagoodday'
Speaking to reporters as he left his home, he said: 'It isn't everybody that gets the chance to see the Queen, is it? It's going to be absolutely marvellous for me.'
His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore said the investiture was the 'icing on the cake' of her father's amazing year.
Captain Sir Tom raised almost £33 million for health service charities by walking laps of his Bedfordshire garden
Just hours earlier the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and other close family attended the unannounced wedding of their granddaughter Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a nearby chapel
As the head of state chatted she was overheard telling the former Army captain who celebrated becoming a centenarian a few months ago: 'One hundred is a great age.'
The talk turned to national events and the coronavirus and the Queen, who has been sheltering at Windsor with Philip asked: 'Have you been shut up - been isolating?'
The Queen looked absolutely delighted to bestow the honour upon the 100-year-old veteran
Almost time: The 100-year-old veteran waited in the quadrangle to receive his knighthood
The Queen took the time to chat to Sir Tom and his proud family in the picturesque castle grounds
The monarch used the sword that belonged to her father, George VI, and will present Colonel Tom with the insignia of Knight Bachelor
Her Majesty was looking resplendent in green for the outdoor ceremony in the sunshine
With her father's sword in her hand, the Queen lightly touched him first on his right shoulder then his left with the blade - dubbing him a knight
A post on Captain Sir Tom Moore's official Twitter account this morning shared a picture of him wearing his campaign medals ahead of the ceremony
The Queen talks to Captain Sir Thomas Moore and his family after awarding his knighthood during a ceremony at Windsor Castle
Speaking to BBC Breakfast ahead of the ceremony, she said: 'We will take a leisurely pace down to Windsor - no rushing today and no falling, no tripping, and we have a fairly regimented day ahead of us.'
She added: 'Protocol is being written as we speak and we will simply be doing as we are told.'
Sir Tom's grandson Benjie said: 'I just want to say thank you to absolutely everybody who has supported us.
'We would not be in this situation without everyone on the other side of the camera, so, from our family, thank you for putting us in this situation.'
His granddaughter Georgia added: 'We are so proud of him and I'm so excited for this day.'
Ahead of the ceremony, Sir Tom said on his official Twitter account: 'It is going to be the most special of days for me.'
Buckingham Palace believes it is the first time the 'unique' format of his ceremony will have taken place, amid the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic and Downing Street's announcement of Sir Tom's individual knighthood.
Royal commentator Dickie Arbiter described the Queen's decision to give Sir Tom his knighthood in an individual ceremony as 'very significant'.
He added: 'The Queen has always said she 'needs to be seen to be believed' so today she will be seen - the last time we actually saw her physically was in June in the alternative Trooping the Colour at Windsor Castle.
'To actually see the Queen in person - this is a step in the right direction, a step hopefully back to new normality, but it will be a very slow step.'
The Queen used the sword that belonged to her father, King George VI, and will present Sir Tom with the insignia of Knight Bachelor.
Buckingham Palace said the investiture followed strict social distancing rules.
Earlier in the day, Princess Beatrice married Italian property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a surprise secret ceremony at Windsor Castle.
The couple were due to tie the knot at the Chapel Royal of St James's Palace on 29 May. But their ceremony was postponed due to Covid-19 and no new date was given by the palace at the time.
Beatrice, 31, and Edo exchanged vows today at 11am at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, in the grounds of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's home of Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park. On marriage Beatrice becomes a stepmother to Edo's son Christopher, known as Wolfie.
The bride's grandparents the Queen, 94, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, who have both been in isolation at Windsor Castle, were in attendance and appeared in excellent spirits as they left the service. The Queen, who has now seen six of her eight grandchildren marry, looked resplendent in mint green for the occasion.
The bride's parents, Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York as well as her sister Princess Eugenie, 30, are believed to have been among the 20 or so guests in attendance, with the guest list vastly stripped back due to Covid-19 restrictions which allow a maximum of 30 people.
The Queen places her handbag on a chair before presenting Captain Sir Thomas Moore with his knighthood at ceremony at Windsor Castle
The Queen looked relaxed and happy after spending the morning at Princess Beatrice's wedding
His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore said the investiture was the 'icing on the cake' of her father's amazing year
'If I kneel down I'll never get up again, Ma'am': Captain Sir Tom Moore shares joke with the Queen as she knights at Windsor Castle - just hours after she attended Princess Beatrice's wedding
!['If I kneel down I'll never get up again, Ma'am': Captain Sir Tom Moore shares joke with the Queen as she knights at Windsor Castle - just hours after she attended Princess Beatrice's wedding]()
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July 18, 2020
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