Queen's fixer resigns from Jubilee plans citing work pressures

LORD LEVENE, the man chosen by Buckingham Palace to organise the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebration in London next year, has resigned at a key stage in the preparations.

T he peer, in charge of investment banking at Deutsche Bank and a former Mayor of London, was chairm a n of the London Committee of the Queen's Golden Jubilee for onl y six months but stepped down, citing "pressures of time".

One report suggested the 60-year-old peer resigned after a row over the nature of his role with new Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, whose department has taken charge from the Home Office .

But a spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "T here was no question of a falling out. He [Lord Levene] explained that he reluctantly decided he w ould not have sufficient time to devote to the task."

A Palace spokesman said: "The Queen was sad to hear of Lord * evene's departure, but it is not a blow to preparations."

Lord Levene was not available for comment.

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