Major royal news alert: Queen Elizabeth has just attended her first public outing of the year!
In a surprise appearance outside Windsor Castle on Wednesday morning, the Queen attended a short service commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at the CWGC Memorial in Runneymede, Surrey, as People reports. According to the outlet, the 94-year-old monarch wore a spring-ready ensemble — a light green coat with a matching hat adorned with yellow flowers, along with an Australian wattle brooch — to attend the socially-distanced event, which was held just a short drive from Windsor Castle.
Following the service in which a wreath was laid on behalf of the Queen, the monarch viewed panels bearing the names of Australian war dead before meeting with RAAF personnel and signing a commemorative document. The Queen also congratulated the RAAF in a formal statement (per The Sydney Morning Herald).
“As one of the oldest Air Forces in the world, it is fitting to pay tribute to the efficiency, skill and sacrifice of the men and women who have served in its ranks, in Australia and overseas, during the past one hundred years,” she said.
The event marked Queen Elizabeth's first public outing in nearly five months
According to The Telegraph, the commemorative event marked the first time Queen Elizabeth was seen outside Windsor Castle in nearly five months — but it was also noteworthy as it was one of her first appearances since her husband, Prince Philip, was hospitalized in mid-February. Following Prince Philip’s discharge from the hospital in March after undergoing heart surgery, the Queen reportedly has been spending time with Prince Philip at Windsor Castle as he recuperates from the operation (via CNN).
Additionally, Prince Philip’s hospitalization also coincided with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s tell-all interview with Oprah in March, a shocking event that seems to be continuing to cause a major fallout with the Queen and the royal family.
Still, the Queen seemed to be in good spirits at the engagement on Wednesday, seemingly looking “delighted” to be back to attending in-person engagements (per Vanity Fair). Reportedly, she even joked with one of the soldiers at the service about lockdown restrictions.
“It’s rather bad luck to have arrived in lockdown isn’t it,” she said to the officer. “I hope in the next couple of years you’ll be able to travel a bit more.”
Source: Read Full Article