The Queen is appearing “refreshed and revitalised” on her mini-break to Norfolk where she has indulged in her passion for horses, royal sources have said.
Her Majesty was spotted today wearing a trademark headscarf and bright lipstick being driven by an aide to make a second visit to her four legged friends at the Royal Stud stables.
The Mirror revealed last week how the Queen travelled to her Sandringham estate where she celebrated her 96th birthday.
The monarch made the journey by helicopter from her Windsor Castle home, staying at Wood Farm to be close to her beloved late husband Prince Philip.
The Duke of Edinburgh spent most of his retirement at the five bedroom cottage after stepping back from royal duties in 2017, until both he and the Queen moved into Windsor Castle alongside each other for the majority of the pandemic.
Since last Wednesday the Queen has been “enjoying some quiet time” as well as welcoming a small number of guests as part of low key celebrations for her birthday.
Her Majesty has also been speaking to staff who run the main residence, which is now open to the public throughout the spring and summer, as well as trainers and workers at her local stables.
The Queen effectively retired from horse riding after a hospital stay last October where she underwent a series of tests for an unexplained condition.
The sovereign has been suffering from discomfort when riding and decided to hang up her saddle before the start of ongoing mobility issues which she has suffered in recent months.
However, royal sources have said the Queen has lost none of her enthusiasm which she has demonstrated these past few days.
One source said: “Her Majesty is as keen on being updated about the horses as she has ever been.
“She has loved seeing the horses this week and just as enthusiastic about everything from their wellbeing to their training progress, her eyes light up when she is around the horses.
“She’s certainly appearing refreshed and revitalised from taking some time off and having a rest.”
The Queen has been forced to cancel several high profile engagements in recent weeks after suffering from an inability to get about.
Palace insiders say that while she remains “pin sharp” in mind, the aging monarch has “good days and less good days” with her mobility.
Courtiers have stressed that the Queen should not be expected to attend high profile events as a matter of course, but instead will make decisions on the day.
The Prince of Wales alongside the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stepped in to attend Easter church services on behalf of Her Majesty, while Prince William and Kate marked the Anzac Day commemorations today on behalf of the family.
It emerged last week that Buckingham Palace and horse racing chiefs responsible for the Epsom Derby are also engaged in a military style operation to get the Queen to the event this year, which takes place during her Platinum Jubilee weekend of celebrations in June.
Plans involve making sure the Queen's car can be driven as close as possible to the racecourse suites where the monarch could take a lift up to her private box to watch the event in comfort.
The Queen has never had a winner in what is considered to be the world’s most prestigious flat race.
Champion jockey and four time Derby winner, who has ridden hundreds of times for the Queen, told how he has relished hearing Her Majesty’s depth of knowledge.
He said: “Well, first of all, you’ve got to be careful what you say, because she’ll pick you up if you get it wrong.
“And I know she's now an old lady, but she’s sharp.
“Her mind is still very, very sharp, and her breeding is right at the forefront of her brain. If you just slip up and say this horse is out of the wrong mare, she will be straight on you.
“Or she goes back four or five generations and tells you about them.
“I can’t remember last week, never mind five generations!
“She’s very sharp. We’ve got to know The Queen quite well, and it’s her passion. I wouldn't call it her life, but it’s her passion, her hobby, and she really enjoys doing it.
“You go to the stud and you;re walking around the stud and you're looking at the foals and the stud groom says, ‘That’s so and so out of so and so; and you can see her going up to the foal and she starts giving you a story about a grandmother or whatever.
“She just enjoys touching the foals, stroking them, and that is a great moment for her, just enjoying seeing the future in her horses.
“It’s her passion that she really loves.”
