Queen leaves Prince Philip’s walking stick at home as she opts for staghorn cane for Jubilee celebrations (but hands it off and manages to walk unaided!)
- Queen left Prince Philip’s walking stick at home last night in favour of a stag horn
- Used the same cane in March at an official engagement at Windsor Castle home
- She handed her walking stick to a member of the greeting party as she carefully eased herself down from her Range Rover
The Queen left Prince Philip’s walking stick at home last night in favour of a stag horn mobility aid as she enjoyed the first of the jubilee celebrations at Windsor Castle.
Her Majesty, 96, opted for a light blue dress with grey pashmina to watch the watched all-star line-up including Dame Helen Mirren, Tom Cruise and Katherine Jenkins perform at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
While she is often spotted with her late husband’s walking stick – which is dark wood with a marble handle – last night she instead opted for a natural stag horn aid, which she clutched as she walked into the show.
She used the same cane in March at an official engagement at her Windsor Castle home.
The Queen left Prince Philip’s walking stick at home last night in favour of a stag horn mobility aid as she enjoyed the first of the jubilee celebrations at Windsor Castle
Her Majesty, 96, opted for a light blue dress with grey pashmina to watch the watched all-star line-up including Dame Helen Mirren, Tom Cruise and Katherine Jenkins perform at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Last night, The Queen reached the event by car with an escort from the Household Cavalry as the national anthem was played.
She handed her walking stick to a member of the greeting party as she carefully eased herself down from her Range Rover – in which she was accompanied by her youngest son, Prince Edward, 58.
Her Majesty has been suffering from mobility issues in recent weeks but managed to walk unaided for the glitzy event.
Staghorn walking sticks are usually used to blend into natural surroundings when walking outdoors.
She is often spotted with her late husband’s walking stick – which is dark wood with a marble handle (pictured in February at Sandringham)
She was spotted with the same cane in March at an official engagement at her Windsor Castle home
The Queen has been spotted with Philip’s trusty stick on many occasions since his death aged 99 in April last year.
In February, she met estate workers, volunteers and members of the local Women’s Institute in her first public engagement for more than three months.
The monarch is thought to have taken to using the stick during her stay at Wood Farm, the cottage on the Sandringham estate where the Duke spent his retirement.
Prince Philip’s biographer Gyles Brandreth told The Telegraph at the time: ‘I recognised the stick instantly as it was always kept in a pot by the front door. It was the Duke’s stick, and it is very touching that the Queen has started using it.’
Philip was last seen carrying the walking stick publicly in 2013, as he returned to royal duties after undergoing abdominal surgery.
The distinctive stick features curved handle carved from horn, and is reportedly longer than standard walking sticks.
Philip – who died at the age of 99 last April- was last seen carrying the walking stick publicly in 2013, as he returned to royal duties after undergoing abdominal surgery
Though she walked largely unaided, the Queen carried Philip’s trusty stick as she met estate workers, volunteers and members of the local Women’s Institute in her first public engagement for more than three months
Prior to this year, the Queen was rarely seen with a walking stick, but she has previously been photographed using one on a few occasions, including at engagements in 2003 and 2004.
On October 12th last year, Her Majesty was seen using stick for support in public for the first time in nearly 20 years as she marked the Royal British Legion centenary at Westminster Abbey.
Two days later, she carried a stick as she as she attended the sixth ceremonial opening of the Senedd at the Welsh Parliament building in Cardiff.
The monarch had stayed in Philips’s beloved Wood Farm cottage for the 70th anniversary of her father’s death, which also marked her Accession Day, on February 6th.
The pictures will diminish health fears surrounding Her Majesty that have circulated in recent weeks
Photos show the royal walking to her seat and beaming in delight at the show, entitled A Gallop Through History. She is pictured in the crowd
The pictures will diminish health fears surrounding Her Majesty that have circulated in recent weeks.
The Queen has been forced to cancel a string of engagements in recent months and last week missed the State Opening of Parliament, symbolically asking her son, Prince Charles, and grandson, Prince William, to stand in.
But royal aides insist that despite what they describe as ‘episodic’ mobility issues, the monarch is in good spirits and very much in charge behind the scenes.
Her appearance last night, following her first visit to the horse show on Friday to watch some of her beloved animals compete, will give succour to her subjects
It also bodes well for the official weekend of jubilee events in June, when it is anticipated she will attend a Service of Thanksgiving for her remarkable 70-year reign and make her traditional appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at Trooping the Colour.
It is unlikely she will attend many other events, however, as palace aides admit she has ‘good and less good days’.
Last night’s gala show, which featured more than 1,300 performers, 600 horses, children’s choirs, a 75-piece orchestra and stars from stage and screen, was always going to be something the Queen would have been keen not to miss.
Different eras of British history were enacted on stage as part of the show. Dame Helen Mirren, who has played both Queen Elizabeths on TV and film, reprised her role as the Tudor monarch.
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