The Queen returned to work days after the death of her ‘beloved’ husband Bedford News

The Queen has resumed her royal duties, just days after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, to mark the retirement of her household’s top official.

The monarch was back to work on Tuesday to host her first in-person event since Philip’s death on Friday and held a ceremony as Earl Peel formally stepped down as Lord Chamberlain.

The return to her official role so soon after her mourning characterizes the Queen’s deep sense of duty and service.

The Duke of Cambridge has pledged to keep Philip’s wishes and continue to support his grandmother the Queen and ‘do her job’.

It was announced over the weekend that the monarchy and their households would observe two weeks of royal mourning, with family members “continuing to make commitments appropriate to the circumstances,” a royal official said.

The Princess Royal attended her first official event since her father’s death, joining, via video link, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Spring Conference as the organization’s sponsor.

Earl Peel had overseen the arrangements for the Duke’s funeral – known as Operation Forth Bridge – before handing the responsibility over to his successor, former MI5 spy chief Baron Parker, a little over a week before Philip died at Windsor Castle.

The Lord Chamberlain’s office, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon, Comptroller to the Queen, is responsible for the practicality of the day.

But it was Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere, who took up his new post on April 1, after Earl Peel retired after more than 14 years in the post.

The Lord Chamberlain oversees all high-level appointments in the house, is the channel of communication between the Sovereign and the House of Lords, and coordinates between Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.

In a ceremony held at Windsor Castle, the Queen accepted the wand and official insignia of her former royal assistant.

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

He said: ‘Earl Peel had an audience with the Queen today, presented his wand and insignia of office as Lord Chamberlain and the insignia of Chancellor of the Royal Victorian Order and took leave after relinquishing his appointment as Lord Chamberlain, when His Majesty invested him with the Victorian Royal Chain.

The Queen recently bestowed a prestigious honor on Earl Peel, making him a permanent lord on standby.