The Queen wrapped up warm as she inspected her horses at Windsor Castle today days after she returned to work following her husband’s funeral.
Her Majesty, 95, was seen studying her horses and Prince Philip‘s carriages in the grounds of Windsor Castle alongside her staff today.
The Queen, who donned a long-line mac for the occasion beneath which she wore a colourful headscarf to protect her from the rain, could be seen smiling as she spoke with staff on the grounds.
The appearance comes days after she took part in her first public engagement since the funeral of her husband Prince Philip yesterday.
The Queen, 95, wrapped up warm as she inspected her horses at Windsor Castle today days after she returned to work following her husband’s funeral
The Queen appeared in high spirits despite the pouring rain, and could be seen speaking with her staff from beneath a large hood
The monarch could be seen smiling as she studied the horses and inspected her late husband’s carriages in the pouring rain today
Despite the pouring rain, the Queen could be seen beaming as she walked across the lawn to inspect the horses alongside members of her staff.
The royal peaked out from beneath a large hooded coat, and a colourful headscarf had been neatly tied around her hair.
The monarch’s stoic spirit shone through as she spoke with staff and studied her late husband’s carriages.
It was reported earlier this month that Prince Philip’s ponies and polished dark green carriage will be passed on to his 17-year-old granddaughter Lady Louise.
The Duke of Edinburgh was an enthusiastic carriage driver and took up the sport in his fifties in 1971, switching from polo due to an arthritic wrist
In one poignant moment at his funeral, the Duke’s carriage was driven into the Quadrangle alongside his gloves, hat and whip
On the morning he died, the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex was seen in Windsor Great Park in his carriage, paying tribute by putting the ponies through their paces.
Sources say she will continue to regularly exercise the two black ponies – Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm – at Windsor.
In 2019, Prince Philip was pictured proudly watching his granddaughter take part in a carriage driving competition at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, in which she came third.
He had taught the sport to Lady Louise, as well as to her mother.
The monarch’s stoic spirit shone through as she spoke with staff and studied her late husband’s carriages
The Queen wrapped up warm in a light grey rain mac for the occasion and tied a colourful headscarf beneath her hood
The monarch’s passion for horses was clearly on show, and she could be seen beaming while inspecting the animals
The 95-year-old could be seen studying the horses while walking through the grounds of Windsor Estate earlier today
The duke took up carriage-driving in his fifties in 1971, switching from polo due to an arthritic wrist.
He was credited with shaping the sport in the UK and was still competing in his eighties, representing Britain in three European championships and six world championships in total.
At the age of 91, the prince had the dark green carriage made to his specifications out of aluminium and steel.
He was seen riding the carriage around Windsor and other royal estates in the following years.
The outing marked the first time the Queen has been seen in public since she returned to royal duty after her husband’s funeral
The monarch donned her oval glasses for the occasion and tied her head scarf around her hair to shield herself from the rain
The Queen was joined by members of her staff for the outing in Windsor Great Park earlier today
His fell ponies were both born in 2008 and Balmoral Nevis was bred by the Queen.
The breed, which is native to North England, is used for riding and driving because of the ponies’ large size, strength and agility.
However, fell ponies have been categorised as endangered thanks in part to a genetic disease.
Prince Philip had spoken of his love of haring through the countryside at high speed, whip in hand, in his horse-drawn carriages.
The Queen could be seen studying the Duke of Edinburgh’s horses and carriages during the outing today
The monarch opted to wear a longline rain mac for the occasion and stayed dry beneath a hood, which she tied beneath her chin
The Queen’s stoic spirit shone through as she studied the horses and the Duke of Edinburgh’s carriages earlier today
After she had finished studying the animals, the Queen could be seen gesturing to members of staff behind her
In a book he wrote about the sport, he said: ‘I am getting old, my reactions are getting slower, and my memory is unreliable, but I have never lost the sheer pleasure of driving a team through the British countryside.’
Earlier this week, the Queen returned to public engagements for the first time since her husband’s funeral as she welcomed dignitaries to Buckingham Palace via videolink from Windsor Castle.
She opted to wear the glittering rose brooch from Cartier for the meeting, which was given to her by the Nizam of Hyderabad on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.
Among the Queen’s many wedding presents were a stunning Cartier tiara and necklace from the Nizam of Hyderabad, an Indian monarch and one of the wealthiest jewellery collectors in the world.
A member of the Queen’s staff could be seen gesturing to the royal, as the pair studied Prince Philip’s carriages and horses at Windsor Castle today
The Queen was joined by her staff for the outing, as the pair studied Prince Philip’s carriages and horses at Windsor Castle today
The tiara, which cost £5,000 in 1947 (equivalent to £189,000 today), was set with 1,033 diamonds and had three detachable roseshaped brooches.
The Queen wore his gift several times over 25 years, including on this visit to the Norwegian Embassy in 1951, but had it broken up in 1973 and asked the then Crown jeweller Garrard to make a new tiara.
Earlier this week, the monarch held a virtual audience to receive Her Excellency Ivita Burmistre, the Ambassador of Latvia, at Buckingham Palace.
She also received Her Excellency Sara Affoue Amani, the Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire, during the virtual meeting.
The Queen, 95, wore a diamond floral brooch she received as a wedding gift for her first public engagement since the funeral of her husband Prince Philip this week
She opted to wear the glittering rose brooch from Cartier for the meeting, which was given to her by the Nizam of Hyderabad on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947
The meeting came 10 days after the funeral of her husband Prince Philip, who died at the age of 99 earlier this month.
Notably, in her most recent appearance this week the Queen was pictured no longer in a black mourning outfit.
She was dressed in a pale blue floral dress which featured large purple, white and yellow flowers, with a three-string pearl necklace and a diamond brooch as accessories.
Two weeks of royal mourning in memory of the Queen’s husband of 73 years ended for the monarchy and their households on Friday April 23, meaning the Windsors were allowed to go back to work full-time.
The royal family gathered for a poignant final farewell to Philip on April 17 at a socially-distanced funeral service in St George’s Chapel, with the Queen pictured sat alone as she grieved for her consort
The royal family gathered for a poignant final farewell to Philip on April 17 at a socially-distanced funeral service in St George’s Chapel, with the Queen pictured sat alone as she grieved for her consort.
The Queen turned 95 just 12 days after the duke died and used her birthday to release a message thanking well-wishers for their tribute to Philip.
She said she and her family were in a ‘period of great sadness’ but were comforted by words of praise for the duke.
‘We have been deeply touched and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life,’ she added.