Prince Philip: The Queen returns to official duties four days after her husband's death

Monarch honours key member of royal household ahead of Duke of Edinburgh's funeral

Floral tributes outside London's Buckingham Palace to the UK's Prince Philip, who died aged 99. Getty.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II returned to royal duties on Tuesday, just four days after the death of her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The 94-year-old monarch marked the retirement of her household's most senior official, the former Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel.

Her return to duties comes as preparations are under way for Philip's funeral at Windsor Castle, in south-east England, on Saturday.

The royal family and their households are observing two weeks of mourning, with members of the family "continuing to undertake engagements appropriate to the circumstances", an official said.

Mr Peel had overseen arrangements for the duke's funeral  before handing responsibility to his successor.

In overall charge is former MI5 spy chief Baron Parker, who took up his new role on April 1, following Mr Peel's retirement after more than 14 years in the post.

He had initially intended to step down last year, but stayed on to guide the monarchy through the coronavirus pandemic.

The Lord Chamberlain oversees all senior appointments in the household and is the channel of communication between the monarch and the House of Lords, the upper house of the UK's legislature.

During a ceremony at Windsor Castle, the queen accepted her former royal aide's wand and insignia of office.

The official engagement was recorded in the Court Circular – a daily list of the events attended by the queen and her family.

“The Earl Peel had an audience of The Queen today, 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, when Her Majesty invested him with the Royal Victorian Chain,” it said.

The queen recently conferred a prestigious honour on Earl Peel, making him a Permanent Lord in Waiting.

Queen Elizabeth II alongside the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl Peel, who had delayed his retirement because of the coronavirus pandemic. Alamy

Meanwhile, as part of security preparations, Thames Valley Police are carrying out searches around the town of Windsor, with officers examining phone boxes, post boxes, drains and bins as part of the operation.

A police official said they have put a range of visible and covert security measures in place for Saturday, when the duke is to be honoured with a ceremonial royal funeral in St George's Chapel.

The queen might have to sit alone during the service due to social distancing rules, The Telegraph reported.

She is staying at Windsor with a reduced number of about 22 staff.

The duke's long-standing close aide, his private secretary Brigadier Archie Miller Bakewell, will be one of the few, and possibly only, non-royals invited.

The Honourable Artillery Company fires a gun salute at the Tower of London, with Tower Bridge in the background, to mark the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the age of 99. Getty Images

The Death Gun Salute is fired by the 104th Regiment Royal Artillery to mark the death of Prince Philip, at Cardiff Castle in Wales. AFP

Britain's Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex arrive at Windsor Castle, England. AP Photo

Members of the Household Cavalry ride past Buckingham Palace, London. Reuters

Members of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery arrive at the Parade Ground, Woolwich Barracks, London. AFP

Members of the Honourable Artillery Company in advance of a gun salute to mark the death of Prince Philip, at the Tower of London. AFP

A well-wisher waits in line to lay a floral tribute to Britain's Prince Philip, outside Buckingham Palace, London. AFP

A cyclist rides past a digital display commemorating Prince Philip, in Glasgow, Scotland. Getty Images

Rugby players observe a minute's silence in tribute to Prince Philip before the European Challenge Cup Quarter Final match between Bath Rugby and London Irish, in Bath, England. Reuters

Copies of the 'Courier Mail' at a news stand in Brisbane, Australia, with news of Prince Philip's death. Getty Images

Flags on Sydney Harbour Bridge fly at half-mast, in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Flags at half-mast outside the Senedd, home of the Welsh Parliament, in Cardiff, Wales. Getty Images

Members of media near a community gate at the home of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex in Montecito, California, US, after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip. AP Photo

Actor Sir Ian McKellen looks at floral tributes outside Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England. Getty Images

The big screen inside the stadium displays a commemorative message on the death of Prince Philip, at Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground, in Manchester, England. Getty Images

The British Columbia Legislature flies the Canadian flag at half-mast in Victoria, as piper Ken Wilson plays the 'Heights of Dargai'. AP Photo

Floral tributes outside Buckingham Palace in London. Getty Images

Floral tributes outside Windsor Castle. Getty Images

A mourner draped in a British Union Jack flag takes pictures of flowers placed outside Windsor Castle. Reuters

Miniature Schnauzer dog Lady Trixie of Linfield sits in front of tributes to Prince Philip at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland, during the midday 41 gun salute. Getty Images

Naomi Armstrong and her daughters Lily and Essie leave a bunch of flowers at the gates of Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland, in tribute to Prince Philip. Getty Images

The Union Jack flag flies at half-mast at Buckingham Palace, London. Getty Images

Members of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fire a gun salute to mark the death of Prince Philip, at the Parade Ground, Woolwich Barracks, London. Reuters

A member of the public person holds a floral tribute to Prince Philip outside Buckingham Palace, London. Reuters

A girl lays flowers as tribute to Prince Philip outside Buckingham Palace, in London. Getty Images

Soldiers from 206 Battery, 105 Royal Artillery, take part in a gun salute to the Duke of Edinburgh at Hillsborough Castle in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Getty Images

Britain's Prince Charles addresses the media, outside Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, England, following the death of his father, Prince Philip. AP Photo

A big screen displays an image commemorating Prince Philip, before the Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea at Selhurst Park, London. Reuters

It is thought Philip’s funeral could attract one of the largest television audiences of the year.

The biggest TV audience so far in 2021 was the 25.1 million people who watched UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing a new lockdown for England on January 4, while 13.9 million tuned in for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's interview with US broadcaster Oprah Winfrey last month.

Broadcasters have yet to confirm their plans for Philip’s funeral, but the BBC and ITV are likely to devote several hours to the event, including the ceremony at 3pm.

The queen and Philip’s daughter, Princess Anne, made a public appearance on Wednesday, visiting young sailors at the Royal Yacht Squadron sailing club on the Isle of Wight off England’s south coast.

Princess Anne looks on at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in the Isle of Wight following the death of her father. Reuters.

Since Philip’s death his four children have all paid him tribute, as have grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry.

Another grandchild, Princess Eugenie, paid tribute to her “dearest Grandpa” in an Instagram post on Wednesday. The younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, shared memories of “learning how to cook, how to paint, what to read” with her grandfather.