Monday 16 May 2022 11:40 AM Palace aides warn Queen, 96, has 'good and less good days' trends now
The Queen last night reassured tens of millions of Britons and her subjects around the world about her health during an enthusiastic and energetic appearance at the first of her national Platinum Jubilee celebrations - but royal aides also admitted she now has ‘good and less good days’.
Her Majesty lifted the nation’s spirits and received cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd at the spectacular finale to the Royal Windsor Horse Show - her second visit there in the past three days.
The 96-year-old looked full of joy last night as she watched an all-star lineup including Dame Helen Mirren, Tom Cruise and Katherine Jenkins perform at the event alongside equestrian, military and musical talent from all over the world.
It also bodes well for the official weekend of jubilee events in June, when it is anticipated she will attend a Service of Thanksgiving for her remarkable 70-year reign and make her traditional appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at Trooping the Colour.
It is unlikely she will attend many other events, however, as palace aides admit she has ‘good and less good days’.
The Queen has been forced to cancel a string of engagements in recent months and last week missed the State Opening of Parliament for the first time ever due to age or infirmity, symbolically asking her son, the Prince of Wales, and grandson, the Duke of Cambridge, to stand in for.
But royal aides insist that despite what they describe as ‘episodic’ mobility issues, the monarch is in good spirits and very much in charge behind the scenes, undertaking several meetings each week in addition to her familiar red boxes of official papers.
Her appearance last night, following her first visit to the horse show on Friday to watch some of her beloved animals compete, will give succour to her subjects.
There were wild cheers as the Queen departs following the A Gallop Through History Platinum Jubilee celebration at the Royal Windsor Horse Show last night
Queen Elizabeth II was in fits of giggles after comedian Omid Djalil made a Guy Fawkes joke during the production. She was also pictured taking a quick break to apply fuchsia pink lipstick halfway through the performance
The Queen's walk down the red carpet with a stick will allay some fears about her health and will have given reassurance to millions watching
Her Majesty smiles as she speaks to British actress Adjoa Andoh, star of Bridgerton and Invictus
As the Queen got to her feet to leave the event, A-listers including Tom Cruise stood up to bid the monarch farewell
The Commonwealth and the four nations of the United Kingdom were celebrated, while military and equestrian displays from around the world including Azerbaijan, India, Oman, France, Norway, Switzerland, and Trinidad and Tobago took centre stage. Pictured: Dame Helen Mirren playing Queen Elizabeth I. She previously played Her Majesty herself on screen in The Queen
Damian Lewis (left), Adjoa Andoh (centre) and Tom Cruise (right) stood as the Queen departed at the end of the ceremony
Katherine Jenkins performed at the event on Sunday night wearing a stunning floor-length blue gown
The Herald, played by Omid Djalili, narrated the performance and took viewers through time with each act reflecting on key moments in history, including Elizabeth I's Tilbury Speech and James I and the Gunpowder Plot
Making her second public appearance in three days, the 96-year-old was greeted with a ovation at the event, which had been running since Thursday night, and was all smiles as she made her way to her seat in the Royal Box.
Organisers of the event at Windsor Castle, entitled A Gallop Through History, had always hoped the Queen would attend as their guest of honour. But given her recent mobility issues, nothing was confirmed until the 11th hour last night.
Cruise - who is in Britain promoting his new film Top Gun: Maverick and was mobbed by fans upon his arrival, was at the event in Windsor to introduce what he said was 'one of the most enthralling, thrilling, heart-in-mouth displays' as he announced a performance by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
However Cruise also faced criticism on social media for using the event to plug his new film which he spoke about during an interview with Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham at the celebratory evening.
The Queen reached the event by car with an escort from the Household Cavalry as the national anthem was played. She handed her now familiar walking stick to a member of the greeting party as she carefully eased herself down from her Range Rover – in which she was accompanied by her youngest son, Prince Edward.
The elderly monarch smiled broadly at the welcome and had clearly dressed for the occasion in an ice-blue sequinned dress, around which she had draped a grey embellished wrap against the chill.
The Queen then carefully made her way to her seat in the Royal Box - flanked by Simon Brooks-Ward, 57, a Territorial Army officer and friend of the royals - away from the glare of the cameras.
Although footage from the Royal Box was limited during the performance, the Queen was seen laughing and smiling with other guests. Her appearance will reassure the public given widespread concern about her health.
Hollywood A-lister Cruise said it is 'a real honour and privilege' to be a part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Windsor. He said: 'What she has accomplished is historic.
'She has met presidents, world leaders, people from all walks of life. Not just Americans, but the world knows the dignity, devotion and kindness, that is what I have always felt about her. Someone that understands her position and has held it through a history that's just been extraordinary the past 70 years.'
As Her Majesty left the event, she waved to cheering crowds and smiled as she was driven away in her car by escort
Queen Elizabeth II meets Alan Titchmarsh and Adjoa Andoh (left) as she departs following the A Gallop Through History Platinum Jubilee celebration at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle last night
The Queen was all smiles yesterday evening as she attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
Her Majesty appeared in good spirits as she watched the production that paid tribute to Her Majesty with several different productions
The Queen, 96, sat next to Simon Brooks-Ward (right), 57, a Territorial Army officer and friend of the royals who helps organise the event
The Queen was pictured leaving the production at the Royal Windsor Horse Show Platinum Jubilee Celebrations on Sunday
Queen Elizabeth II laughed as she watched the performance, entitled 'A Gallop Through History', as part of the official celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee
Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham hosted the much-anticipated open-air show staged close to Windsor Castle - the same location as Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee, Diamond Jubilee and 90th birthday. Pictured: The Queen appears highly amused at the theatre production yesterday evening
Queen Elizabeth II arrives for 'A Gallop Through History' Platinum Jubilee celebration at the Royal Windsor Horse Show yesterday evening
The Queen, 96, walked to her seat with the help of her walking stick at the Platinum Jubilee celebration and smiled through the production
The nation saluted and cheered the 96-year-old monarch exited her Range Rover wearing a glitzy grey cardigan and embellished blue dress, accessorised with black loafers and a handbag
Queen Elizabeth II departs following 'A Gallop Through History' Platinum Jubilee celebration at the Royal Windsor Horse Show
Although footage from the Royal Box was limited during the performance, the Queen was seen laughing and smiling with other guests
The monarch was seen wearing a blue cardigan and a blanket placed across her knees as she watched the open-air show
There was continued applause as the Queen made her way to her seat in the royal box, whilst holding her walking stick - despite ongoing mobility problems
The 96-year-old monarch was pictured through the window of her Range Rover arriving for the A Gallop Through History Platinum Jubilee celebration
The Queen and Prince Edward waved to the cheering crowd as she left the event at the end of the evening
The Queen attended the event alongside her son Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, yesterday evening
The Queen looked excited as the show featured more than 1,300 performers, 600 horses, children's choirs, a 75-piece orchestra and stars from stage and screen
Holding a blue handkerchief, the Queen pointed and smiled as the performance went on in her honour
The Queen attended her Platinum Jubilee Celebration yesterday evening where an all-star lineup of talent including Dame Helen Mirren, Tom Cruise and Katherine Jenkins performed
Last night's gala show, which featured more than 1,300 performers, 600 horses, children's choirs, a 75-piece orchestra and stars from stage and screen, was always going to be something the Queen would have been desperate not to miss.
Different eras of British history were enacted on stage as part of the show. Dame Helen Mirren, who has played both Queen Elizabeths on TV and
