Ralph Tollemache, 12, is one of four Pages of Honour attending to the king at his coronation. He is the grandson of Lord Timothy John Edward Tollemache, the fifth Baron Tollemache. 

The King and Queen each have four Pages of Honour supporting them on the day of the coronation. This is a group of schoolboys, often aged between 12 and 15, who are family friends or close relatives. 

Ralph Tollemache is the grandson of the current Lord Tollemache. Image: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

The King’s other Pages of Honour are his own grandson, Prince George, aged nine; Nicholas Barclay, 13, the grandson of one of the Queen’s Companions; and Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, also 13, the son of David, the Marquess of Cholmondeley. 

Ralph Tollemache left for London in the days leading up to the coronation, accompanied by his parents, Edward and Sophia Tollemache. 

The King will be attended to by four Pages of Honour. Image: PA (Image: PA)

The Tollemache family currently reside at Helmingham Hall in Stowmarket, and have long enjoyed close friendships with the royals.  

The late Queen and Prince Philip were friends of Lord and Lady Tollemache for decades, and stayed with them at Helmingham Hall for 27 consecutive years years. 

After the death of the Elizabeth II, Lord Tollemache paid tribute to her legacy at the County Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving held at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

He recalled an amusing moment when, during one of the Queen’s visits, a chimney caught fire, and was being dealt with by a team of firemen. 

The Queen was in the Great Hall at the stately home when “to everyone’s astonishment,” two firemen, covered in soot, suddenly emerged from the fireplace. 

Lord Tollemache said: “To this day I do not know who was the more surprised - Her Majesty, suddenly being confronted by two firemen emerging from the chimney, or indeed, the two firemen emerging to be confronted by their Sovereign.”