Queen's GLEE: Monarch BEAMS at event after Philip's crash reprieve
THE Queen was all smiles as she stepped out today after it was revealed that Prince Philip would not be prosecuted for his Sandringham car crash.
Prince Philip surrenders driving licence after crash says expert
Her Majesty attended an engagement to celebrate 100 years of Britain’s intelligence, security and cyber organisation GCHQ. The monarch looked typically elegant in a blue coat and matching hat with floral detail for the visit to Watergate House, a former top-secret location in central London. The 92-year-old accessorised with a glittering brooch, pearl earrings and a matching necklace.
During the royal outing the Queen unveiled a plaque to mark GCHQ’s centenary.
She also met Ruth Bourne, 92, a former Bletchley Park code breaker.
GCHQ's director Jeremy Fleming told the Queen and invited guests: "Our work is not often glamorous or easily portrayed in film.
"But over the last 100 years it has saved countless lives, shortened wars, given Britain an edge, and solved or harnessed some of the world's hardest technology challenges.
"It's clear to us all that the world is changing at an unprecedented rate. It's more interconnected than ever before.
"And this is driving extraordinary opportunity, innovation and progress. It's also unleashing amazing complexity, uncertainty and risk.
"To keep up in this digital era - to optimise the potential of technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing - we know we need to keep reinventing."
GCHQ was formed in 1919 and it is one of Britain's three intelligence agencies along with MI5 and MI6.
The Queen’s visit comes hours after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that the Duke of Edinburgh - who gave up his driving licence last week - would not be charged for his crash near the Queen’s Norfolk estate in January.
Chris Long, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East of England, said: "The CPS has carefully reviewed material submitted by the police in relation to a traffic collision on the A149 on January 17 this year.
"We took into account all of the circumstances in this case, including the level of culpability, the age of the driver and the surrender of the driving licence.
"We have decided that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute.
"All those involved in the collision have been informed and provided with a full explanation in writing."
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said Philip “respects the decision” of the CPS.
Philip's Land Rover collided with a Kia carrying two women and a baby on January 17 near the Queen’s country estate in Norfolk.
Philip and the baby escaped the crash unscathed, but the two women were left requiring hospital treatment.