THE Queen has formally welcomed her new Lord Chamberlain to his post as she carried out her second in-person public engagement after Prince Philip’s death.
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 followers her return to royal duties earlier this week – just four days after the death of her husband.
She marked the retirement the Earl Peel, 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 retirement after more than 14 years in the post.
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.
