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, could be seen beaming as she studied her horses and Prince Philip’s carriages in the grounds of Windsor Castle alongside her staff this morning.
The Queen, who has been a passionate horse lover and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses throughout her reign, donned a long-line rain mac for the occasion beneath which she wore a colourful headscarf.
The appearance comes days after she took part in her first public engagement since the funeral of her husband Prince Philip.
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 earlier this morning
Earlier today the 95-year-old could be seen behind the wheel as she drove out into the grounds at Windsor to inspect the animals.
Despite the pouring rain, the Queen beamed while walking across the lawn to inspect the horses alongside members of her staff.
The royal peeked 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.
The 95-year-old has not been pictured riding in public since December, although there were reports she was taking daily rides throughout last year.
Throughout the pandemic, head groom Terry has ensured the royal’s ponies are ready and that he keeps two metres from his boss during their rides.
All protective disinfectant measures are taken, particularly for the horse’s saddle and bridle.
The monarch’s ride of choice is a black pony called Carltonlima Emma, named after the stud near Leeds where she was bred, and the routine gives the queen a sense of both freedom and normality.
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
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.
On the morning he died, the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex were seen in Windsor Great Park in his carriage, paying tribute by putting the ponies through their paces.
Sources previously told MailOnline 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 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.
Earlier today the 95-year-old could be seen driving herself out into the grounds at Windsor to inspect the animals and 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
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.
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.
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 today, Mike Tindall said the ‘brave’ Queen ‘made a stand’ by sitting on her own at Prince Philip’s funeral.
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
The former England rugby player, 42, who is married to the Queen’s granddaughter, Zara Tindall, appeared on BBC Breakfast today from his home on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Estate.
He said the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral had been ‘tough’ for the family, but said that Philip would have approved of the ‘beautifully done’ service, which was held under Covid-19 restrictions.
He added that family members weren’t allowed to stay and support the Queen after the service and had to ‘get in your cars and go home’.
The father-of-three explained: ‘Having to see the Queen make a stand in terms of having to show what the world is at the moment and sit on her own and be as brave as she was, I thought just summed up her up as a lady. She was amazing.’
Covid-19 restrictions meant the Queen had to sit on her own and there were just 30 guests but Mike said ‘loss is always going to be difficult’.
After hailing the Queen as ‘amazing and brave’, he continued: ‘Then the funeral finished and it was ‘Get in your cars and go home’, but that is what is allowed, that is what the rules state, so that is what happened.
The Queen could be seen studying the Duke of Edinburgh’s horses and carriages during the outing this morning
The monarch’s stoic spirit shone through as she spoke with staff and studied her late husband’s carriages
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
At the age of 91, the prince had the dark green carriage made to his specifications out of aluminium and steel (pictured, the Queen studying the carriage)
After she had finished studying the animals, the Queen could be seen gesturing to members of staff behind her
‘It was tough but I thought the actual funeral was done so well that I think he will be looking down and he would have actually been happier about the way it happened.’
Mike’s comments come after 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.
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.
Her Majesty’s passion for horses was evident as she spoke with her members of staff and gestured towards the animals
A member of the Queen’s staff could be seen pointing out details to the royal, as the pair studied Prince Philip’s carriages and the Queen’s horses at Windsor Castle today
The Queen was joined by her staff for the outing, with the pair studying Prince Philip’s carriages and horses at Windsor Castle today
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 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 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 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.
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