The Queen is on top form despite having "mobility issues", her unofficial biographer has claimed.
Robert Hardman, who was written several books on the monarch, said she was in “very good spirits” amid recent reports she was now "largely confined" to using a wheelchair.
Speaking on GB News, Mr Hardman, the author of a new book on the Queen’s life, said: “Mobility is something of an issue now…I’m told by those very close to her that she's in very good spirits, you know - absolutely pin-sharp as ever.
“But, but there is a mobility [issue] inevitably when you're coming up to your 96th birthday and also dignity, I think it's terribly important.
“She is the Queen, she wants to be seen as the Queen, she wants to look the part.”
Mr Hardman is the author of the new book “Queen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II” published by Macmillan.
The monarch personally granted him rare access to the usually private royal archives at Windsor Castle to help with the research.
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In an appearance on Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel on GB News this morning, he said: “I was very lucky in researching this and I was given access to the royal archives which are atop Windsor Castle in the big tower.
“Under lock and key there are the King’s wartime diaries, all 11 volumes of them, and the Queen gave me access to have a look at those
“They are fascinating because they're not just sort of ‘what I did today’ type diaries. I mean, they're very honest.”
Meanwhile, he also said Her Majesty will have a keen interest in the current tour of the Caribbean by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
He added: "William and the Duchess would have had a chat with the Queen before going on this trip [to] the Caribbean where she is the queen of all these countries and they'll have a chat when they come back.”
Mr Hardman’s comments come two days after Christopher Biggins told GB News he’d been told the Queen was now largely confined to a wheelchair.
The entertainer said it was “very sad” but that he hoped she’d be well enough to enjoy the upcoming Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
He said: "I have heard that the reason she’s not doing a lot of the events that she should be doing and cancelling them is because she is in a wheelchair.
“She doesn’t want to be seen, she’s very proud. She’s our greatest ever monarch. It’s so very sad and I hope she is able to make her anniversary celebrations.”
Last week, the head of state missed the Commonwealth Day service at the Abbey, a decision understood to be related to her comfort rather than a specific illness.
But she has continued with light duties including some face-to-face audiences.
Next week, the Queen is hoping to attend the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service at Westminster Abbey.
Large numbers of the royal family are set to gather next Tuesday, alongside Philip's friends, colleagues, representatives of organisations he supported and foreign royals to pay tribute to the 99-year-old duke who died in April last year.
