The BEAMING Queen! Her Majesty smiles with joy as she arrives at the Royal Windsor Horse Show… three days after pulling out of state opening of Parliament due to her health
- The Queen stayed in her Range Rover to watch her horses in the parade ring whole chatting to friends
- Her Majesty missed the first day of the Royal Windsor show, with Princess Beatrice, 33 stepping in for her
- There have been worries about her mobility issues but her absence was because she ‘changed her mind’
- Instead of attending the show the 96-year-old monarch reportedly visited her own horses
- This week Prince Charles took her place and gave the Queen’s Speech in a significant constitutional moment
The Queen was brimming with excitement and joy today as she arrived at the Royal Windsor Horse Show – one of her favourite events of the year – despite ongoing mobility problems forcing her to miss the State Opening of Parliament this week.
The 96-year-old monarch, wearing sunglasses, pink lipstick and dresses casually in a white blouse and dark cardigan, looked in good health and spirits after she wound down her window and chatted animatedly to fellow festival-goers having never missed the event in the past 79 years.
But after missing the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday on doctor’s orders as she struggles to walk or stand for long periods, Her Majesty chose to stay in the passenger seat of her Range Rover, where she spoke to passers-by and watched horses in the parade ring.
It came after made a secret trip to see her own horses this week as she missed the first day of the event yesterday. 14 of her animals will be taking part over the coming days, and the monarch was visibly delighted to see them today.
The Royal Windsor Horse Show was also beloved of her husband, Prince Philip, who died last April at the age of 99, so attended today will be both a poignant and a happy memory of their 73-year marriage.
The Queen looked ecstatic to be out and about today as she arrived at the Royal Windsor Horse Show this morning
The 96-year-old had a good giggle as she watched her horses in the parade ground at the event close to Windsor Castle
Well-wishers popped over to have a chat with the royal, who looked very happy to be passing the time of day with them at her favourite horse show
At one point the 96-year-old monarch began wagging her finger animatedly while talking to a festivalgoer
The 96-year-old monarch has never missed the event in the past 79 years. 14 of her horses are taking part and she couldn’t have looked more excited
The Queen spoke to a member of the Royal Windsor Show team. The event was also beloved of her late husband Prince Philip
Her Majesty spoke to a three or four people through the window of her Range Rover this morning. The 4-day event will include the ‘Gallop Through History’ performance, which forms part of the official Platinum Jubilee celebrations
As the Range Rover pulled up near the parade ring, the Queen spoke to a small group, thought to be officials from the show, through the open car window.
She appeared relaxed, smiling and laughing as she chatted, while just a few feet away dozens of photographers tried to capture the moment.
Inside the parade ring, horses were put through their paces as relaxing classical music was played over the public address system.
Dozens of members of the public were also keen to have a memento of the occasion, holding up camera phones to record their glimpse of the Queen.
The monarch was last seen in public when she attended a service commemorating the life of her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in March with senior royals and a congregation of hundreds.
She reached her Platinum Jubilee in February, overcame a bout of Covid after testing positive that month, and celebrated her 96th birthday on April 21 privately at her Sandringham estate.
Last October, she spent a night in hospital and over the following three months was under doctors’ orders to only conduct light duties so missed a number of prominent events.
The Queen has been using a walking stick in public since she attended a service marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion last October.
The crowds were delighted to see her sat in the front passenger seat of the vehicle, casually dressed in a white blouse and a blue cardigan-style top and wearing sunglasses
Official after official came to her car window to chat horses – and Her Majesty was clearly loving it
Something this man said to the monarch made her laugh uproariously days after she missed the Queen’s Speech
The Queen was looking left and right as she took in the scenes at the show – but she chose not to get out of the car and sit in the royal box
The show, which kicked off yesterday and will run until Sunday, is the Queen’s favourite event of the year but Princess Beatrice stepped in for Her Majesty in a ‘dress rehearsal’ for Sunday night’s festivities.
Beatrice was said to have ‘delighted to be asked to play the role of the Queen’ to make sure the event would go ‘without a hitch should Her Majesty wish to attend the Royal Windsor Horse Show in this way.’
Instead of attending the event, the Queen chose to visit her own horses. She has not missed the show in 79 years and this year’s event will see 14 of her horses competing.
The Queen had been set to be driven 500 yards from her Windsor Castle apartments to see her five-year-old gelding First Responder compete, but her appearance was suddenly called off minutes before the horse was due to take part.
She then privately visited her other horses entered into the contest at the Royal Mews at the castle, reports indicate.
It came as this week the Queen dramatically pulled out of the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years because of her increasing mobility issues. Prince Charles read her speech for the first time, accompanied by Prince William, who had never attended before.
And it has been revealed that Beatrice and Edo, as well as Princess Eugenie, 32, and her husband Jack Brooskbank, along with several other royals, won’t make an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
The balcony appearance, which is often seen as the centrepiece of major royal occasions, including Trooping the Colour and weddings, usually sees the Queen’s extended family gather to watch a flypast and is a rare chance for fans to see the entire extended family together.
Following his ejection from public life, after settling a civil court case in America over allegations of sexual abuse against Virginia Giuffre (which he vehemently denies), it was inconceivable that Beatrice and Eugenie’s father Prince Andrew would be given a spot.
Despite earlier claims that the Queen offered Prince Harry and Meghan Markle a space on the platform, they too have been left off the list, although they quickly announced today that they will be in London for the celebrations with their two children.
However, in paring the list down to just 16 people to avoid potential diplomatic pitfalls, the Queen has been forced to omit a number of well-liked family members including her much-loved grandchildren and their families.
Her cousins, including Prince Michael of Kent, and their families, with whom the Queen enjoys a warm relationship are also out in the cold, with a total of at least 34 royals absent from the balcony.
The final balcony lineup will boast the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children; the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children; the Princess Royal and Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence; the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; the Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra.
The Queen made a secret trip to see her own horses as she missed the first day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show (pictured at the event in 2011)
Princess Beatrice arrives during the charity preview night of A Gallop Through History Platinum Jubilee celebration at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle. Picture date: Wednesday May 11
Lady Louise Windsor drives a carriage once belonging to the Duke of Edinburgh during the A Gallop Through History Platinum Jubilee celebration at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle. Picture date: Thursday May 12
The Queen’s other adult grandchildren, Peter Philips and Zara Tindall have been excluded with their families, even though their mother Princess Anne and stepfather Sir Timothy Laurence will join the Queen.
In a formal statement about the decision, Buckingham Palace said: ‘After careful consideration, The Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday 2nd June will be limited to Her Majesty and those Members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of The Queen.’
There are exceptions, however. Prince Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who is not a working royal, and the Queen’s granchildren Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, and her great-grandchildren George, Charlotte and Louis are included.
The Palace spokesman added: ‘The Cambridge and Wessex children are also expected to appear as is Sir Tim Laurence, who the Queen is happy to attend as a frequent attendee and support for the Princess Royal on official engagements.’
The announcement follows reports that her Majesty herself may not appear on the balcony, due to the 96-year-old’s limited mobility.
It is believed that aides are working on a ‘plan B’, with an insider saying: ‘It could still happen but it is by no means guaranteed that we will see the Queen on the balcony during the Jubilee.’
While recent balcony appearances have been more focused on senior members of the Firm, normally, there are no restrictions on which family members are present for Trooping of the Colour, the Queen’s official birthday.
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