Queen pictured looking extremely happy and healthy at Royal Windsor Horse Show
Watch: Smiling Queen arrives at Royal Windsor Horse Show
The Queen was seen looking happy and relaxed as she arrived at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, marking the first time she has been seen in public since the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service in March.
The monarch, 96, was driven the short distance from Windsor Castle to the Copper Horse Arena to attend the show in Home Park.
As the Queen arrived at the event, which is thought to be one of of the monarch's favourite of the year, she was seen smiling and chatting with officials as she was driven on to the show ground.
Dressed casually in a navy button-down woollen coat, with a green cardigan layered over a white blouse, the Queen also wore brown-hued sunglasses to protect her eyes from the glare of the sun, and accessorised with one of her signature green-patterned silk scarf, which she wore over her expertly coifed hair.
The Queen's appearance at the show comes just days after she pulled out of attending the State Opening of Parliament due to health concerns.
There had been speculation that she would not attend the annual equestrian event this year, so her appearance will no doubt have delighted royal fans present.
The Queen has been unable to attend a number of events since last October, and Buckingham Palace has announced that she will miss further events this summer.
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She sat in the front passenger seat of the Range Rover and as the vehicle 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, while just a few feet away dozens of photographers tried to capture the moment.
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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.
Inside the parade ring, horses were put through their paces as relaxing classical music was played over the public address system.
The Royal Windsor Horse Show is thought to be one of the Queen’s favourite events of the year.
She is believed to have attended every year since it started as a wartime fundraising event in 1943.
In 2020 the live show was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and was conducted online instead.
Last year, the monarch flew back from Scotland to attend the second day of the show, having driven herself to the arena in a Range Rover.
The royal was pictured beaming as she soaked up the atmosphere of the prestigious event.
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Prior to today's appearance, 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.
There has been some concern over the Queen's health recently after she overcame a bout of COVID earlier this year.
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Last October, she spent a night in hospital and over the following three months was under medical orders to only conduct light duties so missed a number of prominent events.
The Queen has also been using a walking stick in public since she attended a service marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion last October.
Additional reporting PA.
