Queen comes out of lockdown to knight Sir Tom at Windsor
THE Queen is to knight Captain Sir Tom Moore tomorrow at a unique open-air ceremony in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle.
She is giving the 100-year-old Second World War veteran his own personal investiture in honour of his pandemic feat, raising almost £33million for NHS charities by walking laps of his Bedfordshire garden.
A delighted Capt Sir Tom said: “It is such a huge honour and I am very much looking forward to meeting Her Majesty the Queen.
“It is going to be the most special of days for me.”
The Queen will use a sword to touch him briefly on each shoulder. She usually places the insignia around the recipient’s neck but the Palace is looking at how to obey social distancing.
Investitures have been put on hold, but the Queen – who has been shielding at Windsor – wanted to make an exception to honour Capt Sir Tom.
His knighthood was revealed in May by Boris Johnson outside of the usual honours lists. The Palace said: “Captain Sir Tom and his family were hopeful the investiture could take place in a timely fashion and we are pleased it has been possible.”
He and his family will enjoy refreshments but the Queen will only be attending the ceremony.
BRITAIN’S heroes never retire from doing good. Lifelong Express reader Joan Willet is 103 and she walks up and down a steep hill outside her care home four times a day to raise cash for the British Heart Foundation.
Captain Sir Tom Moore this year raised nearly £33million for the NHS with his own sponsored garden walk, and tomorrow the centenarian will receive his knighthood at Windsor Castle. Such living legends are an inspiration to Britons of every age and a reminder it is never too late to strive to make the world a better place.