The Queen has attended her first in-person engagement in weeks, following her hospitalization in October and subsequent health concerns.
On Wednesday she received General Sir Nick Carter for an Audience at Windsor Castle, where she has been resting on doctors’ orders.
She met with him as he formally relinquished his appointment as Chief of the Defence Staff in the UK, but royal watchers were more interested in how the 95-year-old monarch looked.
Dressed in a colourful, floral patterned dress and her signature strings of pearls, the Queen appeared to be in good spirits while she chatted with General Sir Nick Carter.
The Queen donned a bright, floral dress for the occasion.
(Getty)
Though she kept her distance, likely as part of ongoing COVID-19 precautions, the monarch didn’t show any signs of ill health or injury, despite recent fears for her health.
Meanwhile, in Jordan, her son Prince Charles reassured journalists that his mother is well, saying: “She’s alright, thank you very much.
“Once you get to 95, you know, it’s not quite as easy as it used to be. It’s bad enough at 73.”
Concerns for Her Majesty’s health began in October, when she cancelled a trip to Northern Ireland and then spent a night in hospital for “preliminary investigations”.
She was then forced to cancel her appearance at the Cop26 climate change summit on doctors’ orders and spent weeks resting at Windsor Castle and her Sandringham Estate.
Though she hoped to attend the Remembrance Sunday service last weekend, a back sprain unrelated to her earlier ailments forced her to cancel yet again.
It’s understood that the 95-year-old has been carrying out light duties form her desk and will continue to do so as she recovers her strength.
While we can likely expect to see her attend meetings at Windsor Castle and remote engagements, it’s unclear when the Queen will return to full public duties.
In the meantime, other senior royals have stepped up to take on key duties and lighten the Queen’s load.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge stood in the Queen’s usual spot on the Foreign Office balcony during the Remembrance Sunday service the 95-year-old had to miss.
Meanwhile, Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall have jetted to Jordan and Egypt for a royal tour where they will represent the Queen.
