The Queen has arrived at
the Royal Windsor Horse Show to watch her animals take to the parade ring.
Pictured in her Range Rover, the monarch, 96, appeared upbeat and smiled as she
made a surprise appearance on Friday.
The event, which started on
Thursday and will run until Sunday, is said to be the Queen’s favourite event
of the year.
She sat in the front passenger
seat of the vehicle, casually dressed in a white blouse and a blue
cardigan-style top and wearing sunglasses. 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.
The Queen appeared relaxed,
smiling and laughing as she chatted, while just a few feet away dozens of
photographers tried to capture the moment.
The crowds cheered and gave a
round of applause as the royal slowly made her way to her seat with a walking
stick. She had arrived to watch the Highland Class 64 event and her horse
Balmoral Leia, a five-year-old grey dun mare, was named the winner and was later
announced as a supreme champion.
Her appearance comes days
after Her Majesty missed the State Opening for the first time in 59
years. The last time she was unable to attend was in 1963 when she was pregnant
with her youngest child, Prince Edward.
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The Queen was pictured in Windsor on Friday
Her eldest son Prince
Charles read out her speech for the first time and was accompanied by
the Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall.
The news of the Queen’s
cancellation was confirmed on Monday, with a Buckingham Palace spokesperson
stating: “The Queen continues to experience episodic mobility
problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she
will not attend the State Opening of Parliament.
“At Her Majesty’s
request, and with the agreement of the relevant authorities, The Prince of
Wales will read The Queen’s speech on Her Majesty’s behalf, with The Duke of
Cambridge also in attendance.”
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The Queen appeared happy and relaxed
Leading up to the Platinum
Jubilee, the Queen has scaled back public engagements. Last week, it was
announced that Her Majesty would not be making an appearance at the traditional
palace garden parties this spring.
Buckingham Palace announced
the Queen will be represented by other members of the royal family, with exact
names to be confirmed in due course.
