Queen in midst of royal protocol breach during special investiture 'Didn't get the memo!'
THE Queen was caught up in the midst of a royal protocol breach during a momentous engagement.
Captain Tom Moore: House of Commons conduct minute silence
The Queen hosted a special investiture ceremony on July 17 2020 to honour the extraordinary effort of Captain Tom Moore. Captain Tom, a World War 2 veteran, became a national treasure when he completed 100 laps of his daughter's yard in the run-up to his 100th birthday in April 2020 to raise money for the NHS Charities Together.
His extraordinary effort moved the country and raised £32.8million.
Captain Tom, who died in early 2021, cherished his face-to-face meeting with Her Majesty in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle, his daughter Hannah said.
The veteran was accompanied to his special investiture by his daughter, her husband Colin and the couple's children Benjie, 18 and Georgia, 13.
One year after her father's death, Hannah recalled some of the key moments from the royal engagement - including when her daughter chatted with the Queen.
Georgia was asked by the sovereign if school closure, forced by the pandemic, had made things difficult for her.
Speaking to OK! magazine, Hannah recalled: "Georgia said, 'It’s been really difficult because I haven’t seen any of my friends and it’s been quite lonely.
"'We’ve been doing lots of interviews and talking to the world, but I haven’t been able to see any of my friends!'
"The Queen smiled and said, ‘Yes, it must have been difficult,’ and then asked, ‘How old are you? What year are you in?’
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"I stood there and thought, ‘Gosh!’
"She was just being a grandmother and being interested and she knew what to ask.
"I remember thinking, ‘What a woman!’"
The doting mother added her daughter was so in awe with the Queen she happily kept on chatting with her.
But, according to royal protocol, people are only allowed to speak to the sovereign when spoken to.
Amused, Hannah said: "I don’t think Georgia got the memo that you only reply and you don’t instigate conversation with The Queen."
The Royal Family's official website stresses there are no "obligatory codes of behaviour" when meeting a member of the Royal Family.
However, it shares traditional rules should people wish to follow them, including how to properly address the Queen.
On presentation to the Queen, the correct formal address is "Your Majesty", the website read.
The monarch should later be called "Ma'am", it added.
Captain Tom, Hannah recalled, was adamant he would not disclose to the public what the Queen told him.
But he did share his enthusiasm and admiration for the monarch a few days after his memorable trip to Windsor Castle.
Recalling the experience, he told Good Morning Britain in July 2020: "It was absolutely amazing.
"I never ever had such a time in all my life as to be there speaking to the Queen who was such a delightful person. She was absolutely marvellous.
"When she tapped me on the shoulder, with the sword which had been her father's she did it so gently. "She was the kindest person you could ever wish to meet."