THE Queen has carried out her second in-person public engagement after Prince Philip’s death – welcoming her new Lord Chamberlain to his post.
The monarch hosted a ceremony at Windsor Castle for Baron Parker who will oversee the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral as part of his role as the most senior official in the royal household.
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The official engagement was recorded in the Court Circular – a daily list of the events attended by the Queen and her family.
It said: “The Lord Parker of Minsmere had an audience of the Queen today, kissed hands upon his appointment as Lord Chamberlain and received from Her Majesty the Wand and Insignia of Office and the Badge of Chancellor of the Royal Victorian Order, when the Queen invested him with the Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.”
It follows her return to royal duties yesterday – just four days after the death of her husband.
She marked the retirement the Earl Peel, who had spent more than 14 years in the post, ahead of today’s ceremony.
Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere, officially took up his new role on April 1, following the Earl Peel’s stepping down.
He had overseen arrangements for the duke’s funeral, known as Operation Forth Bridge, before handing responsibility to his successor just over a week before Philip died peacefully at Windsor Castle.
Baron Parker served as director general of MI5 from April 2013 until last year and hosted a visit by the Queen to the intelligence agency.
It was announced at the weekend that the monarchy and their households would observe two weeks of royal mourning, with members of the family “continuing to undertake engagements appropriate to the circumstances,” a royal official said.
The Queen returning to her official role so soon after her bereavement typifies her deep sense of duty and service.
She will attend Philip’s funeral on Saturday, along with just 29 other mourners due to Covid restrictions.
The monarch will reportedly have to sit on her own during the service because of strict social distancing rules.
The only person who could sit with her is expected to be Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, Philip’s private secretary.
He is the only other member of the 20-person Windsor Castle Covid bubble – known as ‘HMS Bubble’ – likely to be at the funeral.
