(1)If—
(a)the lord-lieutenant of a county or area is absent from the United Kingdom, sick or otherwise unable to act; or
(b)there is a vacancy in the office of lord-lieutenant of a county or area,
Her Majesty may authorise any three deputy lieutenants or lieutenants of that county or area to act as its lord-lieutenant.
(2)During the period for which they are authorised to act, the persons authorised under this section shall stand for all purposes in the lord-lieutenant’s place and, accordingly, may do anything which may be done by the lord-lieutenant.