Queen pays tribute to Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery with maple leaf brooch

The Queen was the picture of elegance today as she stepped out to meet members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery in her first appearance at Windsor Castle following her return to Balmoral.

Her Majesty was resplendent in blue as she chatted with members of the Canadian Armed Forces, who have been invited to serve as the Queen’s Guard in honour of the regiment’s 150th anniversary.

She donned the Canadian Maple Leaf Royal Brooch, which was initially gifted from her King George VI to his wife, Queen Elizabeth, for their state visit of Canada in 1939. 

The monarch, who last week spoke publicly for the first time about her late husband Prince Philip’s death, appeared in good spirits as she spoke with soldiers at Windsor Castle.

It’s her first time being pictured at her Berkshire home, which she arrived at on Saturday following an extended stay at her Scottish estate following Prince Philip’s death.

The Queen was the picture of elegance today as she stepped out to meet members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery

Her Majesty was resplendent in blue as she chatted with members of the Canadian Armed Forces at Windsor Castle

Her Majesty was resplendent in blue as she chatted with members of the Canadian Armed Forces at Windsor Castle 

Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery have fought in both the First and Second World War and in 1970, the Duke of Edinburgh joined Her Majesty for a visit to their Manitoba base with Prince Charles and Princess Anne.

In celebration of their anniversary, 90 troops have travelled across the Atlantic to stand guard at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and The Tower of London. 

The Canadian troops will serve between 4th October and 22nd October and will also take part in the commemorative Changing of the Guard parade. 

The formal ceremony marks the handover between regiments and sees the group of soldiers currently protecting Buckingham Palace are replaced by a new group. 

The monarch, who last week spoke publicly for the first time about Prince Philip since the duke's death, appeared in good spirits as she spoke with soldiers at Windsor Castle

The monarch, who last week spoke publicly for the first time about Prince Philip since the duke’s death, appeared in good spirits as she spoke with soldiers at Windsor Castle

Her Majesty paid tribute to the Canadian soldiers by opting for an Asprey & Company brooch shaped like the country's national symbol

Her Majesty paid tribute to the Canadian soldiers by opting for an Asprey & Company brooch shaped like the country’s national symbol

The Queen opted for a blue cotton cardigan paired with a white shirt, grey skirt and a pair of black loafers as she met the soldiers this afternoon

The Queen opted for a blue cotton cardigan paired with a white shirt, grey skirt and a pair of black loafers as she met the soldiers this afternoon

Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery have fought in both the First and Second World War. Her Majesty is pictured meeting soldiers at Windsor Castle today

Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery have fought in both the First and Second World War. Her Majesty is pictured meeting soldiers at Windsor Castle today

In celebration of their anniversary, 90 troops - some of whom are pictured meeting Her Majesty - have travelled across the Atlantic to stand guard at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and The Tower of London

In celebration of their anniversary, 90 troops – some of whom are pictured meeting Her Majesty – have travelled across the Atlantic to stand guard at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and The Tower of London

The Queen opted for a blue cotton cardigan paired with a white shirt, grey skirt and a pair of black loafers as she met the soldiers this afternoon. 

Her Majesty paid tribute to the Canadian soldiers by opting for an Asprey & Company brooch shaped like the country’s national symbol. 

The piece originally belonged to The Queen Mother, who often wore the brooch during the Second World War, pinning it to her hat as she toured bombed areas of Britain. 

She kept the brooch in her personal collection until her death in 2002 when it was inherited by her daughter – who wore it on her first trip to Canada in 1951.    

The Canadian troops, pictured with the Queen, will serve between October 4 and October 22 and will also take part in the commemorative Changing of the Guard parade

The Canadian troops, pictured with the Queen, will serve between October 4 and October 22 and will also take part in the commemorative Changing of the Guard parade

The Queen appeared in high spirits today as she met members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle

The Queen appeared in high spirits today as she met members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle

The Queen donned the Canadian Maple Leaf Royal Brooch, which was initially gifted from her King George VI to his wife, Queen Elizabeth, for their state visit of Canada in 1939 during her visit

The Queen donned the Canadian Maple Leaf Royal Brooch, which was initially gifted from her King George VI to his wife, Queen Elizabeth, for their state visit of Canada in 1939 during her visit 

The monarch has made 22 official visits to Canada and seven to Toronto. Her first was in 1951 as Princess Elizabeth, where she visited in place of her father who was ill, and the most recent was in 2010.  

During her most recent trip, the monarch The Duke of Edinburgh participated in events across the country – from Halifax to  Nova Scotia Winnipeg and Manitoba. 

Her Majesty’s appearance comes after she reminisced over the ‘many happy memories’ with the Duke of Edinburgh in ‘this wonderful country’ during her speech in Holyrood’s debating chamber on Saturday. 

The Queen smiled today as she met soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle

The Queen smiled today as she met soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle

Her Majesty is seen amid her meeting with members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle

Her Majesty is seen amid her meeting with members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle 

Soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery were pictured saluting Her Majesty at Windsor Castle

Soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery were pictured saluting Her Majesty at Windsor Castle

Her Majesty is pictured examining a sword as she meets members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle today

Her Majesty is pictured examining a sword as she meets members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle today 

The Duke died in April aged 99 and his wife has given a number of written tributes on social media and through official channels, but over the weekend was the first time she addressed his passing in person.  

Speaking at Holyrood, she said: ‘Today is also a day when we can celebrate those who have made an extraordinary contribution to the lives of other people in Scotland, locally or nationally during the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘I have spoken before of my deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country and of the many happy memories Prince Philip and I always held of our time here.

‘It is often said that it is the people that make a place. And there are few places where this is truer than in Scotland. As we have seen in recent times.

‘We all know of the difficult circumstances that many people have encountered during the last 18 months. However, alongside this have been countless examples of resilience and goodwill.

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