The Queen’s property agent, the Crown Estate, has appointed Vivienne King as its new head of legal as it carries out a major review of one of its key panels.

King steps up from the deputy legal role at the body, which manages the Queen’s £4.5bn property portfolio, with a brief to oversee the legal work across its urban, marine, rural and Windsor estate businesses. She will replace David Harris – who is to take on the deputy role until he retires next year – on 31 March.