Queen gets a brand new walking stick for the Jubilee

The Queen ditched her staghorn walking stick for a brand new walking aid for the Jubilee.

Her Majesty, 96, was spotted on the balcony looking over the Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour alongside her cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

The royal has been using a stag horn mobility aid in recent weeks and is often spotted with her late husband Prince Philip’s walking stick – which is dark wood with a marble handle.

But today, she instead picked a brand new cane, which appeared to have a marble handle and wooden body.

The royal has been using a stag horn mobility aid in recent weeks and is often spotted with her late husband Prince Philip’s walking stick – which is dark wood with a marble handle. But today, she instead picked a brand new cane, which appeared to have a marble handle and wooden body. 

Last month to kick of the Jubilee celebrations, The Queen favoured a stag horn mobility aid as she enjoyed the first of the jubilee celebrations at Windsor Castle for the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

She used the same cane in March at an official engagement at her Windsor Castle home.

 Staghorn walking sticks are usually used to blend into natural surroundings when walking outdoors.

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. 

The Queen left Prince Philip’s walking stick at home in May in favour of a stag horn mobility aid as she enjoyed the first of the jubilee celebrations at Windsor Castle

She is often spotted with her late husband’s walking stick – which is dark wood with a marble handle (pictured in February at Sandringham). Philip is pictured left in 2013

She was spotted with the same cane in March at an official engagement at her Windsor Castle home 

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

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.

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. 

The Queen leaves Windsor Castle with her lady-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey this morning to head to Buckingham Palace

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.

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.

The Queen left Windsor Castle this morning as she headed to Buckingham Palace to take part in her Platinum Jubilee celebrations with other Royal Family members as tens of thousands of people packed London’s streets.

The Duchess of Cambridge and her three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis waved for cheering crowds at Trooping the Colour today before the Queen’s arrival, as they began the celebrations in style.

Three carriages left the forecourt of Buckingham Palace carrying members of the Royal Family down The Mall this morning, with the Duchess of Cornwall riding alongside Kate Middleton and her children in the first carriage.

They were followed in the glorious sunshine by the Earl and Countess of Wessex with their son James, Viscount Severn, and finally the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence in the third carriage.

Louis sat between his older siblings George and Charlotte in a carriage, with Kate and Camilla sat opposite. The children, who were dressed in a light blue, navy and white colour scheme, waved to the crowds – and at one point Charlotte appeared to push Louis’s hand down, while the Princess squinted in the sunshine as the carriage left.

Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne rode on horses during the traditional carriage procession which left Buckingham Palace ahead of Trooping the Colour, also known as the Birthday Parade, at the start of festivities.

As Kate, Camilla and the children left in their carriage, a riding groom had an issue with her horse which refused to move. The carriage had to swerve to avoid the animal which was eventually persuaded to join the procession.

The Cambridge children bowed their heads when the national anthem was played on their arrival into Horse Guards Parade. George was dressed in a navy suit, white shirt and blue tie for the occasion, while Louis was wearing a sailor-style white and navy top echoing an outfit worn by his father at the 1985 Trooping event.

Charlotte’s hair was down, dressed up with two fine plaits fastened with a blue ribbon, and she wore a cornflower dress. She peered out of the central window at Horse Guards Parade as Louis pointed out towards the ceremony.

They arrived at Horse Guards Parade alongside their mother and grandmother in a carriage. The Duchess of Cambridge was wearing a white coat dress by Alexander McQueen and a hat by Philip Treacy. Riding horses were the Prince of Wales on George, the Duke of Cambridge on Derby and the Princess Royal on Sir John.

The Prince of Wales went ahead of the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal as they rode diagonally across the forecourt and under the arches of Horse Guards. Charles wore his scarlet Colonel of the Welsh Guards uniform and green thistle sash riding a horse named George. William rode on Derby in his Irish Guards uniform and Anne on a horse named Sir John in her Colonel of the Blues and Royals uniform as part of the colourful parade.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (L), in his role as Colonel of the Welsh Guards, Prince William (C), Duke of Cambridge, in his role as Colonel of the Irish Guards, and Princess Anne (2R), Princess Royal, in her role as Colonel of the Blues and Royals, ride their horses along The Mall during Trooping The Colour

Ready to party! Today, Kate opted for a £3,000 Alexander McQueen coat dress which she also sported last summer as she joined senior royals at the Eden Project for G7 reception.

A bit of all white! Kate Middleton stunned in a £3,000 Alexander McQueen blazer dress today as she joined her stepmother-in-law Camilla and her three children for a carriage ride down the mall to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee

The Queen’s granddaughter, 18, looked elegant in a pink floral dress as she took her seat alongside Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and James, Viscount Severn, 14, for the procession down The Mall

Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte are part of the procession during Trooping the Colour in London today

Meghan Markle, 40, joined her husband Prince Harry, 37, and senior royal family members to watch the spectacular military event from the Major General’s Office overlooking the Whitehall parade ground

The Duchess of Sussex put on a showstopping display as she made her first royal appearance in two years at Trooping the Colour

People attend celebrations of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, along The Mall in London

The Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall donned a Beulah London Darsha dress teamed with a Juliette Botterill ‘Floral Blossom Percher’ hat and her Rolex watch as she got ready to watch Trooping The Colour with her husband Mike.

It comes as Prince Harry and Meghan are set to join senior royals at an official engagement for the first time in more than two years. The Sussexes are also set to bring along three-year-old Archie and Lilibet, nearly one, for the public family reunion – and the children are likely to meet their cousins George, Charlotte and Louis at last.

Lilibet has never been introduced to her royal relatives, while Archie has not been in the UK since he was six months old. But there is no invitation for shamed Prince Andrew even in a private capacity after his fall from grace.

The Queen’s Birthday Parade at Horse Guards in London is the first official Platinum Jubilee event of the bank holiday weekend, with Her Majesty set to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the RAF flypast at 1pm.

Thousands of people draped in Union Jack flags, party hats and plastic tiaras lined The Mall in the warm sunshine today. Some of those at the front brought camping chairs, having arrived over the past few days to get the best spot, and spirits were high as members of the public chatted and joked with police maintaining the perimeter.

However, police then swooped on four intruders tried to smash through security on The Mall. Two of the protesters – who were from Animal Rebellion – were able to sit in the middle of the road as the marching band approached. Officers hauled them out of the way as the musicians walked by them, avoiding them completely.

The Irish Guards were among the first to arrive at a march at Horse Guards Parade this morning in front of the sitting crowds in the bright sunshine, led by their mascot, an Irish Wolfhound called Seamus. And as huge crowds descended on the capital to witness the historic weekend, police and park authorities said the areas were full.

The Metropolitan Police said: ‘The viewing areas in central London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are now full. To avoid the disappointment of not being able to enter the viewing areas please avoid the area.’

And the Royal Parks added: ‘Crowds have flocked to St James’s Park for Trooping the Colour and public viewing areas are now at full capacity. Please do not head to St James’s Park but enjoy the Jubilee celebrations elsewhere.’

Meanwhile the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said in a tweet on their official account this morning: ‘We’re looking forward to celebrating and seeing how you’re joining us in marking this #PlatinumJubilee weekend.’