Britain queen returns to royal duties after husband Prince Philip's death

LONDON: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has returned to royal duties, four days after her husband Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh's death last Friday.

The 94-year-old monarch hosted an audience with Earl Peel for his retirement as he formally stepped down as Lord Chamberlain, in charge of organising royal ceremonies. During a private in-person event held at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, the Queen accepted her former royal aide's wand and office insignia.

"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," read the details in the Court Circular, a daily list of the official events attended by the Queen and the royal family.

According to their official website, the royal family carries out more than 2,000 official engagements throughout the UK and overseas every year.

While the UK's national mourning after the passing of Prince Philip on April 9 will run until the morning after his funeral at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday, the royal family is observing two weeks of mourning.

A royal official said members of the family would continue to undertake engagements "appropriate to the circumstances".

Over the weekend, Prince Andrew the Queen's son, said his father's death had left a huge void in his mother's life.

Earl Peel would have overseen the funeral arrangements referred to as Operation Forth Bridge before handing responsibility to his successor a week before his death.

Former MI5 spy chief Baron Parker has been in place as the new Lord Chamberlain since April 1 and will be in overall charge of Saturday's funeral.