To one, to you... day Queen had a real ball
AT 91 years young, she has probably never been to an exercise class before.
But that didn’t stop the Queen trying her hand when she joined a group of fellow pensioners yesterday for what was jokingly dubbed a ‘bikini body-ready’ workout.
In fact the monarch, who will celebrate her 92nd birthday a week tomorrow, seemed tickled pink at the sight of the elderly keepfit enthusiasts – all women in their 80s and 90s – as they practised lifting balls above their heads and then down to their feet while sitting on a chair. The Queen, who wore a purple wool tweed dress and coat by Carl Ludwig and a matching hat by Angela Kelly, cheerfully accepted one of the balls when it was handed to her and, laughing, shook it slightly quizzically, before handing it back to one of the participants.
The class at the King George VI Day Centre in Windsor was led by volunteer Kathy Pirrie. Mrs Pirrie, 67, joked with her group just before the Queen arrived, telling them ‘ we’ve got to get bikini body ready’. She later told the royal visitor: ‘Our mantra is SMILE – small moves improve lives every day.’ ÷Princess Anne visited her father at the King Edward VII Hospital yesterday nine days after he had a hip replacement. The 96-year old has been recovering at the private central London hospital since surgery last Wednesday.