Back on his feet... fainting pageboy is on duty again
THE pageboy who fainted during the Queen’s Speech returned to public duties at the Order of the Garter ceremony yesterday – and gave a faultless performance.
Viscount Aithrie held the Queen’s train during the pomp and ceremony of the annual event that attracts thousands to Windsor Castle.
The 12-year-old had caused concern when he fainted with an audible thud at the State Opening of Parliament earlier this month but was later reported to be fine.
Yesterday there was a brief shower as the Queen led the procession of Garter Knights to St George’s Chapel. The Duchess of Cambridge, who wore a sky blue coat by Christopher Kane and a hat by Lock & Co, sheltered out of the downpour in the chapel’s Galilee Porch, alongside the Countess of Wessex in a white dress with feathered collar.
They watched as the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and other Garter Knights walk by in their blue velvet robes and black velvet hats with white plumes.
The Duchess of Cornwall had been due to join the royal party but missed the event after developing sinusitis. A spokesman for Clarence House said that she hoped to attend the opening of Royal Ascot today.
During yesterday’s ceremony two new members of the Order of the Garter, which is in the personal gift of the monarch, were formally invested with their honours by the Queen. They were former Bank of England governor Lord King and ex-MI5 head Baroness Manningham-Buller.
While young Viscount Aithrie survived the day without fainting, a member of an older generation apparently took a tumble.
Former Tory foreign secretary Lord Carrington, 5, seemed to trip and fall but appeared unscathed after being helped to his feet by Princess Anne.