Queen all smiles in return to public eye
She has been forced to pull out of a string of engagements in recent months, sparking fears for her health.
So Britain breathed a collective sigh of relief when the Queen appeared at the Royal Windsor Horse Show yesterday in jolly spirits.
The 96-year-old monarch spent two hours at the event and appeared in her element as one of her horses was named supreme champion.
She chatted animatedly as she watched her beloved ponies notch up a series of rosettes and a trophy.
The Queen’s bright appearance will go some way to allaying concerns about her health. It also lent weight to the message conveyed by Buckingham Palace that she suffers from “episodic mobility issues”.
This was clearly a good day. The Queen, wearing sunglasses, a white blouse and dark jacket, made the short journey from Windsor Castle to the Copper Horse Arena in Home Park shortly before 10.30am.
As word spread she was on her way, a throng gathered as her Range Rover drove up to the viewing platform. There was gentle applause as it pulled up and Her Majesty, who cut a tiny figure in the passenger seat, wound down her window. Handed a programme, the Queen then chatted to officials.
Wearing a slick of bright pink lipstick, the Queen smiled as she watched her ponies compete for about 50 minutes.
Although the equestrian show is considered a private event, it marked her first appearance in public since the late Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service on March 29.
A series of health scares in recent months has prompted the palace to indicate that the public should no longer expect to see her at public engagements, with appearances now only confirmed on the day.
Her failure to attend the State Opening of Parliament this week for the first time in almost 60 years did little to allay concerns.
However, those who saw the Queen at the horse show expressed fresh hope she would make it to at least some of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations next month.
The Royal Windsor Horse Show is thought to be one of the Queen’s favourite events of the year.
She is expected to show 41 animals at the event, compared with 23 or 24 in a usual year, which organisers said reflected the quality of her entries.