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“Arise Sir Tom”, Queen knights £32 million NHS fundraiser in special ceremony

The Queen has knighted NHS fund raiser Captain Tom Moore in a private ceremony at Windsor Castle.

The 100-year-old WWII veteran was honoured after raising more than £32 million for walking a hundred lengths of his garden.

His steel and determination captured the nation as it took it first steps into the coronavirus lockdown.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson nominated Sir Tom for the award.

The dubbing in the castle’s quadrangle was a special exception.

The Queen, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, have been staying at Windsor Castle since the pandemic started.

Sir Tom’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore, son-in-law Colin Ingram, grandson Benjie and granddaughter Georgia were at the ceremony.

The Queen used a sword that belong to her father George VI.

She chatted to Sir Tom and his family, and personally thanked him, saying: “Thank you so much, an amazing amount of money you raised.”

The monarch was also overheard telling the former Army captain that “One hundred is a great age.”

The talk then turned to national events and the coronavirus, with the Queen, who has been sheltering with Prince Philip, asking: “Have you been shut up – been isolating?”

Before the ceremony Sir Tom tweeted that he was “raring to go”.

He said it would be a “very special day” for him and thanked well-wishers.

Royal commentator Dickie Arbiter said the monarch’s decision to give Sir Tom his knighthood in an individual ceremony as “very significant”.

He said: “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,” he added.

Buckingham Palace said the investiture followed strict social distancing rules.

 

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