The Queen has appointed the former head of MI5 as Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in her royal household, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere, will take up his new role on April 1, succeeding Earl Peel who is retiring after more than 14 years in the post.
Baron Parker served as director general of MI5 from April 2013 until last year and was a career intelligence officer having joined MI5 in 1983.
Baron Parker shows the Queen artefacts relating to MI5’s D-Day operations during her visit to the intelligence agency (Victoria Jones/PA)
He hosted the Queen’s first visit to MI5’s headquarters in central London in February last year, when she praised the intelligence agency’s officers for the “tireless work you do to keep our country safe”.
The most senior official in the Royal Household has delayed his retirement because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Lord Chamberlain, Earl Peel, agreed to stay on for longer, amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, while the search for his successor took place, Buckingham Palace said.
Lord Peel, 73, was due to step down at the end of 2020.
The Queen with the Lord Chamberlain at a garden party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace (John Stillwell/PA)
The Palace would not comment on the timescale for appointing his successor.
Lord Peel, who took on the position in 2006, heads the Queen’s working household and it is his job to ensure the smooth running of all the different departments.