Queen’s personal message to Captain Tom Moore revealed in 100th birthday card
The Queen’s representative has delivered Her Majesty’s birthday card to Captain Tom Moore as he celebrates his 100th birthday.
The Queen sent Lord-Lieutenant Helen Nellis, her personal representative in Bedfordshire, to deliver the card to Capt Moore, which was sent with “her warmest wishes”.
A photograph of the inside revealed the personalised message read: “I am so pleased to know you are celebrating your one hundredth birthday on 30 April 2020.
“I was also most interested to hear of your recent fundraising efforts for NHS Charities Together at this difficult time.
“I send my congratulations and best wishes to you on such a special occasion. Elizabeth.”
Capt Moore tweeted: “Just received a rather special birthday card from Her Majesty The Queen.”
The Queen sends thousands of birthday and anniversary cards every year to people reaching significant milestones.
However it’s rare that the person hitting the milestone has also raised £30m for NHS charities.
This morning @LLieutenantBeds, The Queen’s personal representative in Bedfordshire, delivered a birthday card to @captaintommoore from Her Majesty.
Today we join people across the UK and around the world in wishing Captain Tom Moore a very happy 100th birthday 🎈 pic.twitter.com/8wqkGSZdDt— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 30, 2020
Lord-Lt Bedfordshire tweeted: “An honour, a privilege & an absolute joy to meet Colonel/Cpt Tom Moore this morning to present him with a message from HM The Queen on his 100th birthday. Thank you @captaintommoore for shining a bright light during these difficult times.”
In a video message, she recounted some of the “life-changing events” which had marked the 100 years of his life, including the founding of the NHS, and England winning the football World Cup.
And she told him that a section of the Forest of Marston Vale which is in Bedfordshire and part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, will be named after him.
It will be called Captain Tom Moore’s spinney.
Read more: Coronavirus: Prince Charles makes donation to charity tackling pandemic in conflict zones
It was such an honour to present a message from HM The Queen to Captain Tom Moore (now Colonel Tom Moore) and to meet the gentleman who has inspired so much love in the nation #HappyBirthdayCaptainTom #CaptainTom100 #CaptainTomMoore pic.twitter.com/HYY4vP8Ncp
— Lord-Lt Bedfordshire (@LLieutenantBeds) April 30, 2020
Both the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have written to Capt Moore to congratulate him on his achievements.
A video released by Clarence House on Thursday shows the duchess telling Dame Darcey Bussell and Angela Rippon that his efforts made her “proud to be British”.
And Charles’ son, Prince William, previously called him an “absolute legend” and a “one man fundraising machine”.
Kensington Palace confirmed he had donated an undisclosed amount to the captain, who was made an honorary colonel on his 100th birthday.
The palace tweeted: “A very happy birthday to the incredible one-man fundraising machine.”
The Queen sends cards to citizens of the realm, where she is head of state, on their 100th birthday, their 105th birthday and every year after that.
Recipients get a card with a personalised message in a special envelope.
Capt Moore was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on 30 April 1920 and went on to serve in the Second World War, fighting in western Burma.
After the war, he returned to the UK and worked as an instructor at the Armoured Fighting Vehicle School in Bovington, Dorset.
Capt Moore suffered a broken hip in 2018, which his family said inspired him to want to help the NHS.
His original target was to complete 100 laps of his garden and raise £1,000 - which has been far exceeded. The donations page will close on Thursday evening.
