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CoronavirusQueen Elizabeth II

The Queen knights Captain Sir Tom Moore at Windsor Castle

The Queen, Captain Sir Tom Moore

Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised over £33 million for the NHS at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, has received his knighthood at Windsor Castle. The Queen conferred the honour in a special investiture ceremony on Friday afternoon.

The 100 year old was accompanied by his family for the outdoor investiture, the Queen’s first official face to face engagement since lockdown began in March 2020.

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Captain Sir Tom, who was also given the honorary title of Colonel to mark his 100th birthday in April 2020, said it had been ”the most special of days”. As she made him a knight, the Queen was heard to thank him, adding ”an amazing amount of money you raised.”

The Queen arrived at the ceremony to the strains of bagpipes. She used a sword belonging to her father, King George VI, to knight Captain Sir Tom.

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Captain Sir Tom Moore was made a knight in May on the recommendations of the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, after his fundraising efforts for the NHS. The new knight had originally hoped to raise £1000 by completing 100 laps of his garden by his 100th birthday.

The Queen carried out the investiture just hours after returning from the secret wedding of her granddaughter, Princess Beatrice, at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.