 |
| Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II |
The photograph was taken at Buckingham Palace in July in The Queen's private audience room. Her Majesty is seated at her desk, with one of her official red boxes.
It is here that Her Majesty has received her Prime Ministers for their weekly audiences and other guests such as visiting Heads of State and Government, including President Obama and Chancellor Merkel.
In her constitutional role as Head of State, an essential element of Her Majesty's work involves the red boxes that she has received almost every day of her reign, including weekends and holidays, but excluding Christmas Day.
The red box contains important papers from government ministers in the United Kingdom and her Realms and from her representatives across the Commonwealth and beyond. These documents are sent from the Private Secretary's Office to The Queen, wherever she may be in residence, in a locked red despatch box.
While all government boxes bear the Royal cipher, only Her Majesty's box is embossed with the words 'The Queen'. The Queen reads all of the papers and, where necessary, approves and signs relevant papers.
The Queen still receives documents in the boxes that were made for her upon her Coronation. These have been periodically refurbished to keep them in good condition. The company Barrow and Gale Ltd are the manufacturer of the red despatch boxes to The Queen and to Her Majesty's Government.
© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Zdroj: The Britisch Monarchy
