THE ONE SHOW
Queen, 96, beams at Windsor Horse Show after missing State Opening of Parliament
THE Queen beamed as she received a standing ovation at the Royal Windsor Horse Show today.
The 96-year-old looked delighted for her first public appearance since pulling out of the State Opening of Parliament on Tuesday over walking difficulties.
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And she looked delighted when her horse Balmoral Leia was named winner of the Highland Class 64 event, and later supreme champion.
Despite health concerns, she appeared well and spent almost an hour at the parade ring close to her Windsor Castle home, and spent a long period chatting to retired racehorse trainer Henrietta Knight.
Colin Brooks, chairman of the show's committee, shared a joke with the Queen and her head groom Terry Pendry was on hand to offer his advice.
She was driven from Windsor Castle to the grounds this morning in a black Range Rover.
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And she smiled for crowds as she pulled up at the UK's largest outdoor horse show with international competitions.
The Queen, a well-known horse lover, attended the show to watch her own fell pony Balmoral Leia compete.
She took her seat in the royal box with Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex to a standing ovation from the crowd.
A royal watcher said she arrived in the main arena to applause, then walked slowly to a lift before going to her seat, aided with a stick.
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An onlooker who filmed her arrival said: “There she is. Oh, bless her. She looks amazing, doesn’t she?”
She sat in the front passenger seat of the vehicle, casually dressed in a white blouse and a blue cardigan-style top and wearing sunglasses.
As the Range Rover pulled up near the parade ring, the Queen spoke to a small group, thought to be officials from the show, through the open car window.
She appeared relaxed, smiling and laughing as she chatted, while just a few feet away dozens of photographers tried to capture the moment.
Inside the parade ring, horses were put through their paces as relaxing classical music was played over the public address system.
The monarch has been holding virtual audiences due to ongoing health problems.
Her most recent face-to-face meeting was two weeks ago with the President of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis, at Windsor Castle on April 28.
The Queen, dressed in a blue and grey paisley-style silk dress, beamed as she posed for photos in her Oak Room, without her walking stick.
She was last seen at a public engagement at Prince Philip’s thanksgiving in March.
She had been due to attend the State Opening, but made the tough decision to give Prince Charles, 72, centre stage following a conversation with aides.
It was the first time in 59 years that Her Majesty failed to attend, and only the third time she hasn't opened Parliament in her 70-year reign.
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Last month the Queen pulled out of an Easter event at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
For the first time, Charles and Camilla took her place at the Mandy Day church service, an annual fixture in the royal calendar.
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