Captain Sir Tom Moore has been knighted in the Queen’s first official engagement in person since lockdown.
The investiture to honour the 100-year-old, who raised more than £32m for NHS charities, was staged in a “unique ceremony” at Windsor Castle.
He has been recognised for walking more than 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.
Capt Sir Tom, originally from Keighley, West Yorkshire, said it was “the most special of days for me”.
“I am absolutely overawed,” he said,
“This is such a high award and to get it from Her Majesty as well – what more can anyone wish for? This has been an absolutely magnificent day for me.
“The money [raised] is very useful but you’ve only one Queen and when you get a message from the Queen there’s no value that can be placed on that.”