laura_coryton_mbe_240409_034 (Original)

Tindle News

The British Ceremonial Arts Ltd film about Laura Coryton receiving her MBE at Windsor Castle.

Transcript

00:00 At 8 o'clock in the morning, the Berkshire town of Windsor is already alive to another

00:07 working day. Preparations at the castle are well underway. Everything in the state rooms,

00:14 seen of many state and official occasions, is given detailed and careful attention. And

00:22 for the men and women who are anxiously making their way to the castle, it's the culmination

00:29 of many weeks of preparation. It's the day of their investiture at Windsor Castle.

00:36 A short walk from Buckingham Palace at St James's Palace is the central chancery of

00:52 the Orders of Knighthood. It's part of the Lord Chamberlain's office and is responsible

00:57 for governing the orders of chivalry and maintaining the records of all appointments within each

01:02 order. They also take the lead in organising investitures and the sending out of invitations,

01:09 together with warrants signed by the King.

01:15 Lindsay, good morning. Can we just confirm some of the numbers that we are expecting

01:23 for investitures in the next season? Looking at February, investiture X in the morning

01:29 at Windsor Castle with the Prince of Wales. 65. 65, thank you. Just turning, we've got

01:36 four in March. When the various insignia arrive from the manufacturers, each decoration is

01:41 very carefully scrutinised for blemishes and then stored in the central chancery's vaults

01:47 to await its recipient. Only a select number of investitures are held at Windsor Castle

01:54 each year and recipients and their guests are treated to a sumptuous display of art

02:02 and indeed history as they carefully make their way through this majestic building.

02:08 The honours system and the concept of the investiture as we know it today is relatively

02:13 new given that the history of the monarchy spans over a thousand years. Honours for chivalry

02:20 have been around for centuries but it was largely due to the King's great grandfather,

02:26 George V, who in 1917 established the Order of the British Empire so that honours could

02:32 be more widely given to deserving citizens from all walks of life for their contribution

02:37 to the war effort. With the ending of the First World War and the Armistice in 1918,

02:44 King George extended the range of recipients to include those from the world of science,

02:51 the arts and literature as well as the voluntary and charitable sectors.

02:59 Many countries in the world today have honours and awards of one sort or another but nowhere

03:06 is the bestowing of titles and decorations performed in such splendid surroundings and

03:19 with such grace, style and ceremony.

03:23 Laura Corriton for services to charitable campaigning.

03:30 I think one of the most important aspects of an investiture is to be able to reward

03:38 in a suitable way the selfless service and dedication of so many of these remarkable

03:45 people. People who have dedicated their lives in all sorts of unseen areas. I'm a warrior

03:53 and I'm aware, only too aware, that for the vast majority of people who come to an investiture

03:58 it is a very important moment in their lives when they have been given an honour and a

04:03 reward and a thank you for all the marvellous things they've done.

04:10 When talking with the recipients of these investitures I'm reminded of all of the great

04:14 things that they have done to earn their awards. The long service that they have given throughout

04:18 their working lives, the considerable achievements they have reached and the selfless commitments

04:23 they have made to their communities.

04:26 Those who have deserved recognition do get reached by the honour system and I've met

04:32 many of them in my travels around the UK and elsewhere. I hope that the example set by

04:38 these naturally generous and determined people will not be underestimated and especially

04:46 that they will have enjoyed the experience of today.

04:53 [Music plays]

05:00 [Music plays]

05:07 [Music plays]

05:14 [Music plays]

05:21 [Music plays]

05:28 As today's investiture comes to an end there can be little doubt that the day will have

05:49 given lasting pride and pleasure to all.

05:57 [Music plays]

06:05 [Music plays]

06:12 (upbeat music)

06:14 [music]

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