Prince Charles to step in for the Queen following death of her close friend

Prince Charles will present an award on behalf of the Queen tomorrow, following the devastating news that his mother's close friend has died. 

• The Queen's eldest son, Prince Charles, will present an award on her behalf in London, following the upsetting news that her close friend has died. 
• The Prince of Wales will deliver the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering tomorrow, in a formal ceremony at St. James's Palace. 
• In other royal news, Sarah Ferguson says she's 'most persecuted woman' in the royal family, only days after Meghan's legal win.
  

Prince Charles is expected to step out on behalf of his mother at a public engagement tomorrow, following the news that his mother's longtime confidant and lady-in-waiting had died. 

The Queen suffered heartbreaking grief last week after her close friend, Ann Fortune Fitzroy, Duchess of Grafton, passed away at the age of 101. The devastating loss came as just another low point in an incredibly difficult year for Her Majesty, who lost her husband, Prince Philip, in April, after 73 years of marriage. 

Clarence House has now confirmed that the Prince of Wales will attend a prestigious awards ceremony on his mother's behalf at St. James's Palace in London on Wednesday. 

As one of the Queen's four Councillors of State, the 73-year-old is automatically expected to stand in for the 95-year-old monarch should she be unable to attend an event. He shares the lofty title with the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex and Prince Andrew, but it has recently been speculated that Lady Louise will replace Prince Harry for the important role. 

Charles will present the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering to Isamu Akasaki, Shuji Nakamura, Nick Holonyak Jr, M. George Craford, and Russell Dupuis for the creation and development of LED lighting, in a luxurious reception at the royal residence. The annual £500,000 prize was launched in 2013 to recognize "bold, groundbreaking engineering innovation which is of global benefit to humanity" and hopes to "inspire young minds to consider engineering as a career choice." 

The winner of the honor will also take home a 3D printed trophy, which is designed by the champion of the annual 'Create the Trophy competition', a venture to encourage young people aged between 14 and 24 to develop their own engineering skills. 

The Queen is currently residing at Windsor Castle, having been advised by doctors to rest after a bout of recent health scares.