The Queen was accompanied by the second-in-line to the throne, Prince William, during her first royal visit since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced lockdown restrictions in late March. The monarch was helicoptered to Wiltshire from Windsor Castle, while the Duke of Cambridge arrived separately by car.
The two senior royals travelled to Porton Down, the UK's top secret chemical weapons laboratory, to meet and thank staff as well as opening a new counter terrorism facility.
For her first visit in months, the monarch chose to wear a Stewart Parvin old rose cashmere coat and silk dress of autumnal woodland florals with a matching hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan.
During their visit, the Queen and Prince William toured the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and spoke to those involved in counter terrorism and security.
Among them, there were also the scientists who identified the nerve agent, Novichok, used in the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury 2018.
After speaking to military personnel involved in the Novichok incident as well as the clean up of the city, the Duke of Cambridge presented a few representatives of 102 Logistic Brigade the Firmin Sword of Peace, in recognition of their work.
This is an award given to units of the British Armed Forces for having carried out activities beyond their normal role which has sensibly helped the community.
The royals also met experts helping NHS staff on the frontline to tackle the COVID-19 emergency.
Among the staff the Queen and Prince William met, there were scientists working in analytic research areas and deploying microbiologists to NHS hospitals to increase testing capacities.
READ MORE: Meghan and Harry forcing Queen to choose between love and duty
The Queen and Prince William were also shown around to see displays of weapons and tactics used in counter intelligence.
The visit ended with the monarch formally opening the new £30million Energetics Analysis Centre.
The lively Queen ended the visit with a joke. As she was signing the guestbook, the monarch said: "Well, it proves we’ve been here, doesn’t it?"
During this visit, all relevant guidelines on coronavirus have been followed.
DON'T MISS
All 48 people scheduled to come into close contact with the Queen and Prince William at Porton Down have tested negative to coronavirus.
The meeting took place in a car park marquee, to minimise the risk of infection.
And all those attending the event remained at a strict two-metre distance from one another and the royals.
The monarch and her grandson and successor last met in late August, when the Duke travelled with his family to visit the monarch and Prince Philip at Balmoral Castle.
Speaking about the heightened safety precautions taken at Porton Down during the royal visit, a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "Specific advice has been sought from the medical household and relevant parties, and all necessary precautions taken, working closely with Dstl."
This key visit marked the Queen's full return to royal engagements.
However, the Queen never stopped working but simply adapted to the guidelines issued by the UK Government since March.
After transferring to Windsor Castle, the monarch worked from home, receiving every day the Government's red box and holding via phone call her weekly meetings with the Prime Minister.
The Queen also took part in royal visits via video link, including a conversation with a few members of the Carers Trust or a joint video engagement with Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
While at Windsor, the monarch also carried out a face-to-face engagement, knighting in July Captain Sir Tom Moore for his heroic fundraising efforts.
The Queen has recently resumed her work after spending August and the first two weeks of September at Balmoral.
She later travelled to Sandringham with Prince Philip to spend there a few weeks privately with her husband, before leaving him in Norfolk to return to Berkshire.
World - Latest - Google News
October 15, 2020 at 05:03PM
https://ift.tt/37ap4OT
She's back! Queen in first public face-to-face engagement for 7 MONTHS - with huge changes - Express
World - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2SeTG7d
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "She's back! Queen in first public face-to-face engagement for 7 MONTHS - with huge changes - Express"
Post a Comment