The Queen was seen standing today as she held a face to face audience at Windsor Castle – part of her first official engagements since missing the Remembrance Sunday service.
The monarch, 95 – dressed in a green, orange and white floral dress and wearing a string of pearls – was pictured greeting and chatting to General Sir Nick Carter, the Chief of the Defence Staff.
The military audience in Windsor’s Oak Room came three days after the Queen missed the national Remembrance service at the Cenotaph due to a sprained back.
It is the first in-person audience she has held since an investor summit at Windsor on October 19.
The monarch previously told of her regrets at having to miss Remembrance Sunday after spraining her back. She was also left unable to attend the Church of England’s national assembly yesterday, for the first time in her 69-year reign.
The monarch 95 – dressed in a green, orange and white floral dress and wearing a string of pearls – was pictured standing as she greeted to Gen Sir Nick in Windsor’s Oak Room
Today’s meeting was the first in-person audience the monarch has held since an investor summit at Windsor on October 19
In a statement read out on her behalf by her youngest son Edward, the Queen praised the Church of England for offering ‘hope’ during the pandemic, as she reflected on the ‘passage of time’.
Edward said on his mother’s behalf: ‘It is hard to believe that it is over 50 years since Prince Philip and I attended the very first meeting of the General Synod.
‘None of us can slow the passage of time; and while we often focus on all that has changed in the intervening years, much remains unchanged, including the Gospel of Christ and his teachings.’
The monarch reminded the church of its ‘weighty responsibilities’ in making ‘difficult decisions’ about the future of the church.
‘In some areas, there will, of course, be differing views and my hope is that you will be strengthened with the certainty of the love of God, as you work together and draw on the Church’s tradition of unity in fellowship for the tasks ahead,’ she said.
The Archbishop of Canterbury told the Earl that the church ‘draws great comfort’ from the Queen’s prayers.
Her Majesty’s speech also touched on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic had on all faiths.
‘Of course, in our richly diverse modern society, the well-being of the nation depends on the contribution of people of all faiths, and of none.
‘But for people of faith, the last few years have been particularly hard, with unprecedented restrictions in accessing the comfort and reassurance of public worship.
‘For many, it has been a time of anxiety, of grief, and of weariness.
‘Yet the Gospel has brought hope, as it has done throughout the ages; and the Church has adapted and continued its ministry, often in new ways, such as digital forms of worship.’
The General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England which passes legislation.
It was the first full in-person meeting of Synod since February 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic.
Prince Edward delivers the Queen’s speech on her behalf at the General Synod on Tuesday as the 95-year-old monarch misses the event for the first time in its 51-year history
Her youngest son Edward Earl of Wessex (pictured) who read the head of state’s speech to bishops and clergy, praised the institution for offering ‘hope’ during the pandemic
LAST SEEN — The Queen is photographed leaving Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk on Tuesday last week
The Queen pulled out the national Remembrance Sunday service at the weekend after spraining her back, Buckingham Palace said.
She is due to carry out virtual audiences later this week, but has no major public engagements planned for the rest of the year.
Concern for her health has increased given her age and due to the number of major engagements she has missed in recent weeks.
She cancelled a two-day trip to Northern Ireland, and pulled out of attending the Cop26 climate change summit, the Festival of Remembrance, Remembrance Sunday and the Synod.
The Queen’s husband the Duke of Edinburgh died in April age 99.
(From left) Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Kate, Duchess of Cambridge; and Sophie, Countess of Wessex stand on the balcony of the Foreign Office in Westminster during the Remembrance Sunday service where the Queen would have been present
The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge stand on the balcony at the Remembrance Sunday service
The National Service of Remembrance service, pictured on Sunday, is one of the Queen’s most important events of the year
Saturday marks their first wedding anniversary to pass since Philip died. The Queen and the Duke would have celebrated 74 years of marriage.
The Earl of Wessex has told the General Synod ‘you probably understand why’ the Queen was not present to deliver her address.
Edward, addressing the Church of England’s national assembly on behalf of his mother in Westminster on Tuesday, said the Queen sends her ‘sincere and deep apologies that she cannot be here today’.
He added: ‘I think you probably understand why, and she regrets that deeply.’
The Queen, who missed the Remembrance Sunday service at the weekend, was due to appear in person at the Synod but her appearance was cancelled last week.
It is the first time the Queen, 95, who is Supreme Governor of the church, has missed her five-yearly visit to the Synod in its 51-year history.
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