Tag: Cabinet Office

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 12 September 2024.

The Taskforce will co-ordinate flooding preparation and provide long-term, strategic thinking to better protect communities.

A new Floods Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the development of flood defences and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather has convened for the first time, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed announced today (Thursday 12 September).

The Taskforce brings together the Secretary of State and Floods Minister Emma Hardy with representatives from Defra, MHCLG, Home Office, Cabinet Office, the Environment Agency, the Met Office, Local Resilience Forums, Mayoral Offices, emergency responders and the National Farmers Union, among others.

The expert group discussed how they will speed up and co-ordinate flooding preparation and resilience between central government, local authorities and community responders, and emergency services.

The group will also use their collective experience and knowledge to identify and protect vulnerable areas, including championing the delivery of drainage systems, flood defences and natural flood management schemes in communities.

This comes as the current Met Office outlook suggests autumn is likely to be wetter than usual.

The Taskforce also outlined its plans to take a long-term, strategic approach to the challenges of flooding. This will support better protection for families across the country, as well as underpinning the resilience of the economy to the growing threat of climate change. These challenges include ensuring that funding for national infrastructure remains sustainable into the future.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said:

Flooding devastates communities and businesses across the country. For far too long the delivery of flood schemes has been too slow and left communities underwater.

That is why the new Government is acting now to speed up the building of flood defences and bolster our emergency response.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

The climate crisis is the greatest global challenge we currently face, and as an eyewitness to extreme flooding myself, I know the devastating impact these events can have on our livelihoods.

As chair of the Floods Resilience Taskforce, I will work closely with our partners to ensure projects remain on track and not only protect homes but create more green jobs and drive investment in our towns.

The Environment Agency is the government’s primary delivery partner for flood defences and continues to support the construction of hundreds of projects across the country.

Recognising the scale of the challenge, Environment Agency teams have been prioritising the construction, maintenance, and repair of key flood defences – including the Cockett Wick seawall in Essex, which will ensure 3,000 homes and businesses are protected better after a £12 million investment.

Caroline Douglass, Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency, said:

Protecting people and communities is our top priority, which will only become more pressing as climate change brings more extreme weather and rising sea levels.

This new Taskforce will look at the range of resilience measures available to provide options to reduce flood risks in more communities – and we will play our part to ensure essential projects are delivered across the country.

5.5 million properties in England are at risk from flooding and the country has just experienced the wettest 18 months on record (to February 2024) following extreme weather including Storms Babet and Ciarán.

The next meeting of the Taskforce will take place in early 2025 and will discuss longer-term oversight of wider flood resilience strategy and investment, as well as any rapid learning on the response to major flooding.

Last week, Floods Minister Emma Hardy also met with representatives from the insurance industry to discuss the role they can play in building a resilient nation.  The meeting explored the support insurers can provide to their customers, which includes raising more awareness and take up of Build Back Better, which can provide for up to £10,000 in addition to like for like flood repairs to enable future resilience of a property.

In August, the government also launched the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure, which is backed by £40 million and will be the first UK-wide network looking to understand the impact of extreme weather conditions across the country, identifying where incidents are likely to occur and planning to limit their impact.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 10 September 2024.

Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States join UK Government for counter fraud summit in London.

• Senior government officials from UK’s closest intelligence allies meet to coordinate fight against fraud
• Meeting, chaired by Cabinet Office Minister Georgia Gould, forms centrepiece of five day summit in London
• Discussions will focus on fighting fraud committed during the pandemic, with the government currently recruiting a Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner

Tuesday 10th September

Cabinet Office Minister Georgia Gould will today convene senior officials from the UK’s closest intelligence allies to coordinate the fight against Covid fraud.

The meeting of Five Eyes – an intelligence alliance between the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States – will help to identify ways governments have been successfully detecting, recouping and prosecuting fraud committed during the pandemic.

Lessons learnt during today’s meeting will contribute to the ongoing work of the Public Sector Fraud Authority as it seeks to further support departments to prevent, detect and recover fraud and error.

The meeting forms the centrepiece of the fourth summit of the International Public Sector Fraud Forum held this week in London.

The Forum was originally set up by the UK Government in 2018 to encourage cooperation between the Five Eyes to reduce public sector fraud within member countries and across borders.

This is also the first time the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will attend the summit. The OECD’s Anti-Corruption and Integrity Division has collaborated with the Public Sector Fraud Authority to lead talks on the pivotal role of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence in fraud prevention.

Today’s meeting comes as the UK Government redoubles efforts to tackle Covid fraud.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced recruitment for a fixed term Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner to scrutinise contracts awarded during the pandemic and ensure that everything possible is done to recover money lost to fraud.

Minister Gould, Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, said:

Criminal networks threaten governments around the world and don’t respect international borders, so it’s vital we work with our allies to keep public money safe.

Through today’s meeting we will learn from our closest intelligence partners to help us redouble our efforts to track and recover public money lost to fraud during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mark Cheeseman, Chief Executive of the Public Sector Fraud Authority, said:

In the modern world, the threat of fraud against public bodies is a known issue that requires collaboration.

This week brings together leading experts from across partner countries to drive ourselves further in stopping those who attack the system dishonestly.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 7 September 2024.

St James’s Park, London announced as location for the UK’s national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II
The site was chosen due to its historical significance and personal connection to the late Queen, as well as its proximity to the ceremonial route of The Mall
The memorial will reflect Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary life of service and provide a space for pause and reflection
The site for the new national Queen Elizabeth II Memorial has today (7th September 2024) been announced as St James’s Park, London.

The memorial site will include the area of St James’s Park adjacent to The Mall at Marlborough Gate, and land surrounding the pathway down to the lake, including the Blue Bridge.

The site was chosen because of its close proximity to the ceremonial route of The Mall, its historical and constitutional significance and personal connection to Queen Elizabeth. It is close to Buckingham Palace – the Monarch’s official residence – the Commonwealth headquarters, and statues of her parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

The Committee – established by the UK Government and Royal Household in 2023 – considered various options for the location and engaged with the wider public and with key stakeholders and experts across the four nations of the UK to ensure their feedback was considered.

The UK Government will support the successful proposals, and will work closely with the Committee as plans develop. In recognition of the impact Her late Majesty had across the UK, the UK Government will also make available funding for memorial projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Further details on how this will be taken forward will be available in due course.

The memorial is intended to provide not only a fitting monument but also a space for contemplation and community, and will be of an appropriate scale and ambition to match the impact of Queen Elizabeth II on national life, The Commonwealth and indeed the rest of the world.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said:

Queen Elizabeth II’s enduring legacy of service and devotion to our country will never be forgotten.

The national memorial will be located in St James’s Park, right in the heart of the capital, providing everyone with a place to honour the Late Queen and connect with the shared history we cherish.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rt Hon Pat McFadden, said:

Queen Elizabeth II was our longest reigning monarch, and gave her life in service to our nation. It is only right that the memorial is situated in a location that represents the scale of Her role at the heart of British society, and provides a place of reflection for the public.

The UK has a proud tradition of memorialising its monarchs and other significant historical figures, from the Royal Albert Hall and the Victoria Memorial, to Millicent Fawcett. London hosts permanent memorials to recent monarchs including George V, George VI, as well as Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. The creation of a permanent memorial to Queen Elizabeth II will continue this tradition. The announcement of the final design will coincide with what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s hundredth birthday year in 2026.

Later this year the design phase of the memorial will be launched, when architects, artists and designers will be invited to submit design proposals for the memorial.

Lord Janvrin GCB GCVO PC, Committee Chair and former Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth said:

The Mall and St James’s Park at the ceremonial heart of our capital provides a location closely identified with so many events of the late Queen’s life. It is a fitting site for the national memorial in her honour to remember and celebrate her extraordinary contribution to our lives throughout her long reign.

Baroness Amos LG CH PC, Committee member and former Lord President of the Council said:

As Lord President of the Council I met the late Queen regularly. As our Head of State she played an important global leadership role over many decades. She understood the importance of integrity, understanding and values in decision making. She also knew how to connect to people and bring communities together. I admired her resilience and steadfastness, her belief in the people of Britain and the Commonwealth, her quiet diplomacy, her subtle use of power and ‘common sense’ approach.

Alex Holmes, Committee member and Queen’s Young Leader, said:

When I met her I was struck by Queen Elizabeth’s ability to connect with so many people – young and old, here and abroad. Her memorial, sitting in the heart of London, will create a lasting legacy and celebrate her long life of public service.

The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee is tasked with the responsibility to present formal recommendations for a UK national memorial and legacy programme to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II. The Committee comprises eight senior figures from across British public life, selected for their expertise, and chaired by the late Queen’s former Private Secretary Lord Robin Janvrin. The Committee is also continuing its work to develop proposals for a UK-wide legacy programme to commemorate Queen Elizabeth. The Committee is expected to report final design and legacy programme recommendations to the Prime Minister and His Majesty The King in 2026.

Andrew Scattergood CBE, Chief Executive of The Royal Parks, said:

We are honoured that St James’s Park has been chosen as the location for the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II. The park is steeped in rich Royal history, renowned worldwide for hosting spectacular Royal and ceremonial events, so it feels fitting that the memorial should be situated here, close to where our longest-reigning monarch spent a great deal of time. With a peaceful lake at its centre, the park enjoys an outstanding view of Buckingham Palace and provides a wonderful natural haven for wildlife in the centre of London. We hope that the memorial area will provide people with a tranquil space for reflection and contemplation.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 23 August 2024.

Today, the Government has laid regulations to establish the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, as required by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. These regulations will give the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) the powers to pay compensation through the Core Route to infected persons, both living and deceased, as set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Summary: August 2024. The Government expects the IBCA to begin making payments to infected persons by the end of 2024.

A second set of regulations will provide for the payment of compensation to affected persons, and for claims under the Supplementary Route. This will ensure that the IBCA can begin compensation payments to affected persons in 2025.

Sign up to the Infected Blood Compensation Authority mailing list for regular updates on this work as it progresses – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Z55REY/.

The Regulations, the Explanatory Memorandum and the Equality Impact Assessment are available to view on the National Archives website.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 30 July 2024.

The Government will extend measures to speed up increasing the representation of women bishops within the Lords Spiritual for a further five years.

• Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill will extend existing rules aimed at increasing the number of women bishops in the House of Lords.
• Women bishops have been introduced to the Lords more quickly since original legislation came into force in 2015.
• Baroness Smith says the new bill “I have no doubt that any new female bishops will have an important role in parliamentary business in the months to come.”

The Government will extend measures to speed up increasing the representation of women bishops within the Lords Spiritual for a further five years. The term ‘Lords Spiritual’ refers to the 26 Church of England diocesan bishops who sit in the House of Lords.

The new bill, which has been requested by the Church of England, will ensure that vacant seats are filled by women bishops if an eligible female diocesan bishop is available. With the first female Diocesan Bishop having been appointed in 2015, this is to address the temporary inequality created by a system based on longevity of service. There are exceptions for the five great sees (Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, Bishop of London, Bishop of Durham, and Bishop of Winchester) who have an automatic entitlement to sit in the House of Lords.

The measures have seen six women bishops enter the House of Lords more quickly since the passage of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 than otherwise would have been the case. The original legislation had been due to expire in May 2025 and its extension will allow more time to achieve greater representation.

The extension to be granted under the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill to May 2030 will postpone a return to the previous process, which saw seats allocated to the longest serving bishops.

Diocesan bishops are appointed by The King on the advice of the Prime Minister based on nominations from the Crown Nominations Commission.

The Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and EU Relations) said:

This Government is working to ensure our Parliament represents the country that it serves – taking steps to address gender inequality is a vital part of that work.

As a result, it’s important that steps like this are taken to ensure more female bishops are able to bring a greater range of experience to the House of Lords.

The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Basildon, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords, said:

We are pleased to support the Church of England in this matter. Lords Spiritual play a key role in the House of Lords and I have no doubt that any new female bishops will have an important role in parliamentary business in the months to come.

Six female bishops have been introduced to date and, as a direct result of this bill, we look forward to welcoming even more to the second chamber in the years ahead.

Rt Reverend Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, said:

I welcome the decision to extend the measure aimed at increasing the number of women who serve as Lords Spiritual. We have made progress on this in recent years but there is still more work to be done.

Bishops in the House of Lords seek to speak to the hopes and needs of all people across the communities they serve. By better reflecting those communities we can carry out that service more effectively.

This extension of this system is being delivered following a request from the Church.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 18 July 2024.

The Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework held a meeting today, co-chaired by officials from the European Commission and the UK Government.

The co-chairs took stock of the implementation of the Windsor Framework since the last meeting on 25 April 2024. In particular, they reviewed developments in the areas of agri-food, customs, medicines and trade.

The co-chairs discussed the outstanding implementation issues as well as the upcoming milestones. They agreed to step up work with renewed determination to fulfil the joint commitment to the full, timely and faithful implementation of all the elements of the Framework, noting the importance and priority of concrete practical steps to this end.

The Committee co-chairs also took stock of the work of the Joint Consultative Working Group and its structured sub-groups. They reiterated the importance of continued joint engagement with Northern Ireland stakeholders.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 15 July 2024.

The UK’s new Minister for European Union Relations Nick Thomas-Symonds will travel to Brussels today for his first face-to-face meeting with EU Commission Executive Vice President Maroš Šefčovič.

The meeting aims to set the ground for further discussions between the UK and EU as the UK seeks to reset its relationship with the bloc and build closer cooperation on shared issues.

The meeting follows their positive introductory call on Sunday 7th July and Minister Thomas-Symonds’ visit to Brussels on Monday 8th, on his first full day in the role, where he met with the UK Ambassador to the EU and addressed staff at the UK Mission to the EU.

The Minister was appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to lead future UK discussions with the EU and to reset the UK-EU relationship.

Other UK Ministers have also held introductory calls with EU counterparts. Including Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s call with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s call with High Representative Josep Borrell, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s call with Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds’ call with Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.

Minister Thomas-Symonds also accompanied the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to the NATO Summit in Washington last week, meeting with European leaders including Germany, Poland, Sweden and Turkey alongside the PM. The Minister also met US lawmakers including the Chair and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe.

Minister for European Union Relations Nick Thomas-Symonds said:

Our Government is committed to resetting the relationship with the European Union, to strengthen ties, reinforce our security and tackle barriers to trade.

The EU and Member States are among the UK’s closest friends and allies.  With war in Europe, and shared global challenges, in areas such as climate change and illegal migration, a strong UK – EU alliance is vital.

I am looking forward to meeting the Executive Vice President in Brussels today, it was a pleasure to speak to him immediately after my appointment last week. I expect to be engaging with him and EU colleagues much more in the coming months, as we work together to help make our continent safer and more prosperous.

EU Commission Executive Vice President Maroš Šefčovič said:

The EU and the UK are close neighbours, partners, and allies, sharing values as well as challenges that are global in nature. I am looking forward to receiving Minister Thomas-Symonds to discuss ways to strengthen our cooperation, while making the most of our existing agreements that form the cornerstone of our partnership.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 14 June 2024.

HM The King’s Birthday Honours List 2024 recognises selfless and innovative service to others from people across the UK.

Over 1,000 people from across the UK have received honours in HM The King’s Birthday Honours List 2024, published today by the Cabinet Office.

The focus of this List is individuals who have had an immeasurable impact on the lives of people across the country – such as by creating innovative solutions or driving real change in public life.

Many are active community champions, innovative social entrepreneurs, pioneering scientists, passionate health workers and dedicated volunteers.

Alan Bates, founder of Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, receives a Knighthood for services to justice. Tracey Emin receives an DBE for services to art, as does Imelda Staunton for services to drama and to charity.

The youngest recipient in the List is Shamza Butt, who is 20 years old and receives a BEM for her work as a Member of the National Citizens’ Service Trust Youth Voice Forum. Harold Jones is the oldest recipient, who at 100 years old receives a BEM for his fundraising for charities relating to Motor Neurone Disease and the community in Sutton Coldfield.

Innovators and change makers

Michael Palmer, Andrew Airey and Timothy Owen, who founded the 3 Dads Walking campaign after losing their young daughters to suicide, each receive an MBE for services to the prevention of young suicide. The three dads have walked all across the UK to raise awareness of suicide in young people and raise funds for charity Papyrus UK.

Eight people are recognised for their contributions to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Angus Heddle from the Orkney Islands receives an MBE for 73 years of voluntary service to the RNLI, and David Nicoll from Cornwall receives a BEM for his 43 years of service, having started volunteering at the age of 18.

Clodagh Dunlop from Northern Ireland receives an MBE for services to stroke survivors and the reform of stroke services. In 2015 Clodagh suffered from a brain stem stroke, leaving her with locked in syndrome. She has made an incredible recovery over recent years and has returned to work as a serving detective. She is a Stroke Association ambassador and has educated and inspired many stroke survivors in the UK and worldwide.

Patrick and Karen McCourt from Larne, County Antrim, both receive BEMs for services to foster care in Northern Ireland. Both over 70 years old, together they have fostered more than 331 children in the last 45 years.

Rebecca Redfern from Droitwich receives an MBE for her services to young people and to the community in Worcestershire. She was diagnosed aged 7 with Retinitis Pigmentosa, and at the age of 14 was discovered as a para swimmer by British Swimming. She has since won medals at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics as a GB paralympic swimmer and has visited hundreds of schools throughout Worcestershire speaking to children about overcoming obstacles to achieve success.

Deborah Pezzani from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, receives a BEM for services to teenagers and young adults with cancer. In 2007, she set up Teens Unite to bring together young people aged 13-24 who are living with cancer. The charity hosts over 100 beneficiary activities and events annually, has almost 100 volunteers and has raised just over £1 million.

Sally Bourton receives a BEM for services to the community in Cornwall. She is the Postmistress for Trewoon and has been at the heart of her community for 24 years. She runs her Post Office alongside local fundraising activities and, during the pandemic, she was instrumental in rallying local volunteers who were willing to help the community. For the Coronation of HM King Charles, she organised for every child in the village to receive a mint coin with The King’s head on it.

Dean Jackson from Derbyshire receives an MBE for services to business and innovation through setting up his own wetsuit company, HUUB. This first came about in 2011 when Dean noticed a gap in the market after seeing little advancement in wetsuit design and performance. HUUB has since expanded its products into cycling gear as well, and is now worn by many of the world’s top athletes, including the Brownlee brothers.

Alison Baverstock from Kingston upon Thames receives an MBE for charitable services to families in the British Armed Forces community. She created the charity Reading Force in 2011, developing a scheme that supports parents in the military read with their children while on deployment or during training. The scope of the scheme has since expanded across the whole of the UK as well as UK Armed Forces overseas. To date, over 250,000 people have requested reading scrapbooks or received reading books, improving children’s reading ability.

Anyone can freely nominate someone for an honour.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The honours system strives to be inclusive of all of the UK society. Of the 1,077 people who receive an award:

• 948 candidates have been selected at BEM, MBE and OBE level:
• 300 at BEM
• 425 at MBE
• 223 at OBE- 692 (64%) of the recipients are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity;
• 713 (66%) of the recipients live outside of London and the South East
• 509 women are recognised in the List, representing 48% of the total:
  • 40% of recipients at CBE level and above are women;
• 10% of the successful candidates come from an ethnic minority background:
• 4.6% of recipients are from an Asian ethnic group;
• 3% of recipients are from a black ethnic group;
• 1.6% of recipients with a mixed ethnic background;
• 0.4% of recipients come from another ethnic background;

The full Birthday Honours List 2024 on gov.uk.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 24 May 2024.

Today (Friday 24th May) the Victims and Prisoners Bill was granted Royal Assent, creating a new arm’s length body called the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA).

Before the IBCA can make final payments, the Government will need to make the regulations to enact the compensation scheme for victims of the Infected Blood scandal. The legislation also means that the final regulations must be made by the Government – within three months, so by 24 August 2024.

The Prime Minister delivered a state apology on the 20th of May, in response to the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry report.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office outlined the Government’s commitment to deliver compensation on the 21st of May in the House, alongside a proposed compensation scheme.

The Government will continue to deliver interim payments, including the £210,000 announced on the 21st of May, to those living with an infection, starting in this summer, and within 90 days as of the 20th of May as announced by the Government.

The Department for Health and Social Care has received the advance of £837 million to fund the interim payments. These payments will be made by the NHS Business Services Authority and equivalent organisations.

Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA)

The IBCA is led by Interim Chair Sir Robert Francis KC. Sir Robert will continue engagement with the Infected Blood community in the coming weeks. The interim CEO of the IBCA has been in place for some weeks.

The Lord’s amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill were considered in the House of Commons today as part of the ‘wash up’ process ahead of the general election period starting on Saturday 25 May.

In addition, a statutory duty to review candour laws by the 1st of January 2025 has been included in the Act. The Inquiry recommended that due consideration be made of a duty of candour across Government.

Sir Robert Francis, Interim Chair of the IBCA, said:

I am very pleased to see that today Parliament has passed the legislation bringing the Authority into existence and to be formally confirmed as its Interim Chair.

I fully understand the urgency for the infected and affected community to enable the Authority to start to receive applications and make awards in the shortest possible time, and we are already working very hard to achieve that.

I will publish a more detailed statement about our work in the very near future.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 12 May 2024.

Hospitals, coastguard operations centres, job centres, universities and Church of England churches can now claim a free official portrait of King Charles III.

His Majesty The King’s Official Portrait Scheme has been extended to include hospitals, coastguard operations centres, job centres, universities, Church of England churches and other public institutions.

From 5 June more public institutions, as well as Church of England places of worship, will be eligible for a free portrait of His Majesty The King. Should they wish to, they can request one free framed portrait per establishment.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

“His Majesty’s accession marked a new chapter in the history of our nation.

“Our public authorities and established churches are an essential part of the fabric of the nation and it is right that they have the chance to commemorate this moment.

“Displaying this new portrait also serves as a reminder of the example set by our ultimate public servant. Like his mother before him, The King has dedicated his life and work to serving others.”

The portrait, taken at Windsor Castle last year by photographer Hugo Burnand shows His Majesty wearing a Royal Navy uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet and official medals and decorations.

Portraits of Heads of State are a common feature in public buildings across the world and official portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and previous monarchs are currently on display in many public institutions in the UK.

The Church of England is the Established Church in England, meaning that it is established by law and has a unique relationship with the State.  As well as being Head of State, The King is also Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

This extension follows the success of earlier phases of the scheme. The initial phase of The King’s Official Portrait Scheme was open to local authorities, court buildings, schools, police forces and fire and rescue services and other public institutions across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, among others.