A POLICE officer just days away from retirement has been chosen to represent Hampshire Constabulary at the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Chief Insp Helen Andrews will join representatives from police forces across the country as the nation pays homage to the longest-reigning monarch in its history.
It will be the first state funeral to be held in the UK since that of Britain's wartime prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill, in 1965.
Chief Insp Andrews joined the constabulary in the early 1990s and is currently head of New Forest police.
She said: "I feel incredibly honoured to be representing Hampshire Constabulary at the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after 30 years of service.
“The funeral will be a very sombre affair for all of those personally affected, but will be a lasting memory for me personally ahead of my imminent retirement."
The Queen died aged 96 at Balmoral Castle on September 8.
Chief Insp Andrews said: "I have a personal interest in the Royal Family and since the announcement I have felt a pull to be in London when not on duty."
She has already laid flowers outside Buckingham Palace as well as visiting Windsor to pay her respects and witnessing the Queen's lying-in-state.
Referring to the funeral she said: "I am thrilled that I have been personally selected to be a part of this extraordinary occasion and I know that my family are bursting with pride too.
“These are exceptional circumstances for policing, with the force having supported requests from other forces to provide mutual aid in the form of extra officers to ensure an appropriate police presence exists where there is increased demand for it.
“However, this has not impacted on our ability to deliver a core service to the residents of Hampshire and we continue to play a pivotal role in keeping local communities safe.”
Chief Insp Andrews is due to retire at the end of this month.
She joined Hampshire Constabulary in 1992 and has worked in Southampton as well as the New Forest.
Following a stint away from the Forest she returned to the area in 2018, serving as an inspector in the east of the district before becoming District Commander.
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