Queen Elizabeth didn't get to meet James Bond on her visit to the MI5 secret intelligence agency in London on Tuesday, Feb. 25. She did, however, get to thank the men and women working at the domestic spy center for keeping Great Britain safe.
Her Majesty was given a personal tour of the MI5 offices by director Sir Andrew Parker. Cameras and reporters were not allowed inside the building but reports cited that the Queen was able to view the exhibits at the MI5's private museum.
Featured in the exhibit is the Iron Cross that Adolf Hitler awarded to secret agents "Garbo" and "Tate." They were double agents who deceived the Nazis during the Second World War. They were so good at their deception, posing as German officers, that Hitler gave them an award
In her speech, Queen Elizabeth commended the British spies for their utmost commitment to live by their motto, "Regnum Defende" (Defend the Realm). She said that a spy can never be publicly recognized due to the nature of their work.
Yet the monarch has always been impressed by the remarkable resolve of the spies. She said that Great Britain will continue to be threatened but the MI5 keeps adapting to the changing treats against the country.
The royal visit comes as MI5 and Sir Andrew Parker are featured in the documentary series Inside MI5: Keeping The UK Safe on ITV. Parker is also due to retire in April.
He said that the MI5 isn't always in control of stopping terrorist activities in the U.K. He recalled the most harrowing terrorist attacks in the previous years in the documentary feature.
The outgoing MI5 boss also said that several TV shows about the MI5 are enjoyable to watch but it's still so far off from reality. Parker said that British spies still care about ethics, and operate legally within a tight framework.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth and the royal family are preparing for a special engagement this March 9. The country will be commemorating Commonwealth Day at the Westminster Abbey.
The affair will also be reunion between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the royal family since the Sussexes decided to live in Canada. Queen Elizabeth requested the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their last rounds of royal engagements before they finally step down and shift to a private life. Prince Harry and Meghan will also be staying in North America for half of their time.
