He has reportedly cast off his crutches just in time for next week’s royal wedding following his hip operation.
And Prince Philip delighted onlookers when he made a surprise appearance at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Friday – the first time he has been seen in public since leaving hospital on April 13.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 96, was spotted chatting to the Queen through the window of a private car as day three of the annual equestrian event got underway this morning in the strongest indication yet that he will be well enough to attend the nuptials of his grandson Prince Harry.
The monarch, casually dressed in a quilted navy jacket, tweed skirt and floral headscarf, looked delighted to have her husband back at her side while Philip appeared to be in good spirits.
She was accompanied by Lady Penelope ‘Penny’ Romsey, who is the wife of the Queen’s cousin and Prince Charles’s mentor and childhood friend, Lord Brabourne.
The annual show, just a short distance from Windsor Castle, is one of the Queen’s favourite equestrian events of the year and sees competitors taking part in a range of events from show jumping to dressage, along with displays from The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and DAKS Pony Club.
He’s back! The Duke, 96, was spotted chatting to his wife through the window of a private car as day three of the annual equestrian event got underway this morning and appeared to be in good spirits
Recuperation: The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to the private King Edward VII Hospital in early April for surgery after a month of severe discomfort on the advice of doctors
Favourite day of the year: Today marks the Queen’s second appearance after she was seen chatting to fellow spectators at the prestigious show, which has long been an unmissable event in Her Majesty’s diary, on Wednesday
The monarch, casually dressed in a quilted navy jacket, tweed skirt and floral headscarf, looked delighted to have her husband back at her side – pictured here with Lady Penny Romsey
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding on May 19 will have been timetabled to allow the Queen to attend the show and to make sure the nuptials did not clash with its organisation.
And it was claimed last night that the Duke, who retired from public duties in August 2017, had ditched his crutches ‘just in time’ for the wedding of the year as a royal insider praised his ‘amazing willpower’.
They told The Sun: ‘When he sets his mind to something he gets on and does it. He has been walking up and down stairs several times in succession. He has also been charging across rooms at full speed. He even had to be told to slow down.’
The Duke was admitted to the private King Edward VII Hospital in early April for surgery after a month of severe discomfort on the advice of doctors.
It seems the 96-year-old, who is likely to still be using walking sticks or crutches at this stage, was keen not to be seen incapacitated so left ten days later after a prolonged rest.
Buckingham Palace had previously said that Philip would continue his recovery at Windsor Castle, where the Queen is in residence, and both the Queen and Princess Anne have said he is in ‘good form’.
The elderly royal will have already begun his rehabilitation moving with the aid of a stick or crutches, and may still face weeks of physiotherapy as he learns to walk again on his new hip.
Her Majesty (third right) was accompanied today by Lady Penelope ‘Penny’ Romsey, who is the wife of the Queen’s cousin and Prince Charles’s mentor and childhood friend, Lord Brabourne
On being discharged from hospital last month, it seems the 96-year-old, who is likely to still be using walking sticks or crutches at this stage, was keen not to be seen incapacitated so left ten days later after a prolonged rest
Back together: The monarch, casually dressed in a quilted navy jacket, tweed skirt and floral headscarf, looked delighted to have her husband back at her side while Philip appeared in good spirits
Fighting fit: It was claimed last night that the Duke, who retired from public duties in August 2017, had ditched his crutches ‘just in time’ for the wedding of the year as a royal insider praised his ‘amazing willpower’
Speaking about the Duke’s miraculous recovery this week, a source told The Sun: ‘When he sets his mind to something he gets on and does it. He has been walking up and down stairs several times in succession. He has also been charging across rooms at full speed. He even had to be told to slow down’
On the mend: Buckingham Palace had previously said that Philip would continue his recovery at Windsor Castle, where the Queen is in residence, and both the Queen and Princess Anne have said he is in ‘good form’
While it is not know if Philip will enjoy the day’s festivities on foot, the 96-year-old Duke’s surprise appearance is the strongest indication yet that he is firmly on the mend
The Queen was seen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Wednesday as she with fellow spectators at the prestigious show, which has long been an unmissable event in Her Majesty’s diary.
The five-day event, held in the private grounds at Windsor Castle, is now in its 75th year and the Queen is believed to have attended every single year since it began as a wartime fundraising event back in 1943.
The event is intrinsically linked with the royal family; both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh competed at it during their younger years, with Prince Philip entering the Carriage Driving at Royal Windsor Horse Show for 30 years, winning it just once in 1982.
In more recent years, the Queen has watched many of her own horses take part in the showing class competitions.
Last year, the monarch was joined by son Prince Edward and his wife Sophie as well as grandson Peter Philips, Canadian great-daughter-in-law Autumn and their two children.