MP Gavin socks it to 'em as downpour fails to ruin big day with the Queen
After his wedding and the birth of his two daughters, it was one of Gavin Williamson's proudest days.
The South Staffordshire MP was made a member of the Privy Council this week but the occasion did not totally pan out as he had anticipated.
As Mr Williamson headed to Buckingham Palace on Thursday to officially be sworn in as a Privy Councillor by the Queen, he was caught out by heavy rain.
But the Prime Minister's Private Parliamentary Secretary unexpectedly found after a gruelling month on the campaign trail his shoes had been rendered useless.
He said: "Rather than get a taxi to Buckingham Palace I thought I would walk the relative short distance from Whitehall. But as I saw ministerial cars sweep past, I was caught up in a downpour and it seems the soles of my shoes had worn -through after much walking during the campaign.
"I arrived at Buckingham Palace to kiss hands with the Queen with my socks soaked right through.
"It was rather uncomfortable and I feared Her Majesty would hear the squelching of my soaked feet.
"Fortunately I think I got away with it."
Mr Williamson, 38, was made a Privy Councillor along with new Cabinet members. Also in attendance was Chris Grayling, who takes over as Lord President of the Council from Nick Clegg. Chancellor George Osborne was there in his new role as First Secretary of State.
The Privy Council is a formal body of advisers to the Queen. Its membership is mostly made up of senior politicians who are or have been members of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
It means Mr Williamson will now be referred to as the 'Right Honourable – Rt. Hon – Gavin Williamson for the rest of his life.
He will also be given access to some of the country's most confidential information.
He said: "It was an absolute privilege to be appointed to the Privy Council by the Queen."
