A senior Buckingham Palace official may have been snubbed for an honour after he forgot to proclaim ‘God Save the King’ at the end of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral for the congregation to repeat.
Inside sources believe this may have impacted the decision not to bestow the CVO – Commander of the Royal Victorian Order – upon him, as he might have expected, as King Charles “minds about that kind of thing”.
David Vines White, the Garter Principal King of Arms, was the second most senior person involved in making arrangements for the funeral in September 2022 and the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla the following May.
During the closing moments of the Queen’s funeral at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, he failed to read out the phrase and possibly incurred the wrath of the King.
One source told the Mail on Sunday: “It was written in capital letters in the order of service for the funeral. As a herald it is literally his job to say ‘God Save the King’ at the right moment. No wonder he was missed off the honours list. Charles minds about that kind of thing.”
Other senior heralds involved in the planning and execution of the funeral and Coronation did receive honours, including Mr White’s Scottish counterpart for “services upon the demise of the Queen”.
More junior members of the Royal Household were also honoured, as well as Royal Navy personnel who received their during a ceremony at Windsor Castle.
Both of Mr White’s predecessors were given the CVO, with his snub causing upset at the College of Arms as many others from across the ranks were recognised.
Mr White has worked for the heraldry for nearly 20 years and since 2021 has been Garter Principal of Arms, with his predecessor Thomas Woodcock proclaiming at Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021.
Mr Woodcock was made a CVO in the 2011 Birthday Honours, a year after he took up the role as Garter and was then knighted upon hs retirement.
Mr White has another two years left to serve before his position comes up for renewal and he may have expected to receive a CVO after a year of service, followed by a knighthood when he steps down.
He told the Mail on Sunday when asked if he expected a gong: “That is a question no one ever discusses.”
