The Queen has appeared in a new video just days after a recent health scare and looked to be in good spirits as she carried out a virtual engagement.
Her Majesty honoured British poet and translator David Constantine with The Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in a special meeting via video link.
Dressed in a bright floral frock, with a string of pearls around her neck and a glittering brooch pinned to her top, the 95-year-old monarch was all smiles during the call.
“I am very glad to have a chance to see you, if only mechanically this morning,” she told David during the call.
Her Majesty appeared via video link to award the medal.
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Her signature sense of humour also made an appearance as she joked with the lauded poet, asking what he does with all his awards.
“I don’t know what you do with it. Do you put it in a cupboard?” she quipped after awarding him the medal.
The video, which was released by Buckingham Palace and shared to the Royal Family Instagram account is one of the Queen’s first public appearances in over a week.
Her Majesty was forced to cancel a planned trip to Northern Ireland on Wednesday last week on medical orders, sparking concern for her health.
The palace later announced that the monarch had been hospitalised on Wednesday for “preliminary investigations” and stayed there overnight.
She returned to Windsor Castle on Thursday, where she has remained ever since, as she takes a break from in-person royal duties.
There were hopes that the Queen would be well enough to attend the Cop26 climate change summit in Glasgow next week, however she has had to cancel that appearance too.
“Her Majesty has regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the evening reception of COP26 on Monday, 1 November,” Buckingham Palace announced on Wednesday.
“Her Majesty is disappointed not to attend the reception but will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message.”
This recent scare has left many royal watchers concerned for the Queen’s health, as she hasn’t been forced to take a break like this in several years.
Though the monarch will continue to undertake virtual engagements in the coming weeks, it’s unclear when she will be out and about in person again.
When she does return to face-to-face duties, Her Majesty will reportedly be accompanied by one of her children or grandchildren for all events.
This will allow other senior royals like Prince William and Prince Charles to support her and prevent disappointment if she has to pull out of an appearance at short notice.
