Queen Elizabeth welcomes new Lord Chamberlain after Philip’s death
QUEEN ELIZABETH II has formally met her new Lord Chamberlain following the death of her husband, Prince Philip.
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In Her Majesty’s second in-person engagement since the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, she met with Baron Parker to welcome him to his new role. Philip, aged 99, died on April 9. His funeral takes place on Saturday.
According to the Court Circular, the Queen hosted a ceremony at Windsor Castle for her new Lord Chamberlain.
Baron Parker will oversee Philip's funeral as part of his role as most senior official in the royal household.
The Court Circular showed the meeting was the Queen’s second in-person appearance, despite being in an official two-week mourning period.
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."
The Queen’s first engagement came on Tuesday, where the Earl Peel “delivered up his Wand and Insignia of Office as Lord Chamberlain and the Badge of Chancellor of the Royal Victorian Order and took leave upon relinquishing his appointment as Lord Chamberlain”.
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Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere, officially took up his new role on April 1.
It followed William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel’s retirement after more than 14 years in the post on March 31.
The Earl Peel 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.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk Philip would have been delighter Her Majesty is carrying on with royal engagements.
He said: “This is an example of her remarkable resilience and the dedication to duty for which she is rightly famed.
"Prince Philip, who was never enamoured of the fuss associated with funerals, would undoubtedly be delighted."
On April 9, Buckingham Palace announced Her Majesty’s “deep sorrow” over the death of Philip.
It said in a statement: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband.
"The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."