THE Queen has praised MI5 officers for the ‘tireless work you do to keep our country safe’ in her first public visit to the intelligence agency.
Her Majesty thanked staff as she was given a tour by MI5 head Sir Andrew Parker of the security service’s Thames House headquarters in London.
Highlighting its ‘remarkable resolve’ in dealing with World War II, the Cold War, terrorism and cyber threats, she said: ‘There will no doubt continue to be significant threats and challenges ahead. But, on each of my visits to MI5, I have been impressed by the way that you have adapted to the changing threats to our nation.’
On a tour of MI5’s museum, she was shown an Iron Cross given to a double agent named ‘Garbo’ who deceived the Nazis before D-Day and was told how her father, George VI, helped during the war by visiting a fake oil depot.
