The Queen received a private tour from MI5 director Sir Andrew Parker.
The British monarch, 93, made a surprise visit to the central London headquarters of secret intelligence agency MI5 on Tuesday.
Dressed in an elegant plum coat and matching wide-brimmed hat, the Queen received a personal tour of the spy center by MI5 director Sir Andrew Parker, and later thanked the agency — which deals with internal security as opposed the foreign threats handled by MI6 — for “the tireless work you do to keep our country safe.”
“I would like to take my visit here today as an opportunity to thank you all,” added the Queen. “I am always struck by the remarkable resolve with which you carry out your vital role.” While cameras and reporters were not allowed inside the building — which is just a short walk from Parliament — it is known that the Queen viewed a number of exhibits in the agency’s private museum.
This included an Iron Cross awarded to Spanish secret agent “Garbo” by Adolf Hitler, who unwittingly honored the British spy and his equally secretive colleague “Tate” despite the fact that they were integral to a number of major deception operations against the Nazis, including those ahead of the crucial D-Day landings.“There will no doubt continue to be significant threats and challenges ahead,” added the Queen in her speech, which was revealed by Buckingham Palace after the event.
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