Queen Elizabeth II has made her first official engagement at Windsor Castle, outside London, since the death of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, on Friday, according to royal records.
The 94-year-old sovereign presided over a ceremony in Windsor with Earl William Peel, who has just retired as Lord Chamberlain, the highest official in the royal house and whose office organizes state visits, royal weddings and is the main canal. communication between the queen and the House of Lords.
At that ceremony, Elizabeth II received from Peel the staff and insignia corresponding to Lord Chamberlain, which will now be passed on to the new head of the position, Andrew Parker, former director of the British (internal) MI5 secret services.
Earl Peel had announced his retirement last year, while Parker had begun working as Lord Chamberlain a week before Prince Philip’s death.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who had been hospitalized for several weeks in March last year, died in Windsor at the age of 99.
The ceremony presided over by the queen took place on Tuesday and was recorded today in the circular appeal of the court, which specifies the events presided over by the head of state.
The royal family is in mourning for two weeks and is preparing for the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, which will take place on Saturday – the 17th – in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.