The Queen confessed she had trouble moving when she carried out her first in-person audience since her Covid scare as she said: “Well, as you can see, I can’t move.”
Her Majesty, 95, used a walking stick during the official engagement at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, one day after her son Prince Andrew settled the US civil case with Virginia Giuffre outside court.
Still smiling, the monarch held the audience with the incoming Defence Services Secretary Major General Eldon Millar and his predecessor Rear Admiral James Macleod.
The Queen is understood to have been feeling slightly stiff, rather than having injured herself or being unwell.
In footage, she could be heard greeting them: “Oh, I’m here! I thought you might have just stayed in there for ages. Good morning.”
The monarch admitted her frailty when she was asked how she was. She said: “Well, as you can see I can’t move.”
Rear Admiral Macleod said: “Well, many congratulations on the start of your Jubilee year.”
She responded: “Oh, thank you very much indeed. That’s very kind.”
The visitors had received a welcome from the Queen’s elderly dorgi Candy who growled at them.
Rear Admiral Macleod said: “I notice you’ve got Candy keeping guard because, as we came down the corridor, she was not going to let us get anywhere near you.”
Maj General Millar added: “She gave a little growl as we came in.”
The Queen replied: “Oh really? Did she? She doesn’t normally growl.”
Rear Admiral Macleod added: “She obviously can see through us.”
In recent months, the Queen has been carrying out light duties after she was ordered to rest by doctors when she spent a night in hospital undergoing preliminary tests in October.
It was her first appearance since she faced a Covid scare last week when her son Prince Charles tested positive for the virus.
