Queen Elizabethis out and about!
The monarch made her first public appearance of the year (and only one of a handful of in-person outings since the COVID-19 pandemic began) on Wednesday to mark the Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force at the CWGC Air Forces Memorial in Surrey, a short drive from Windsor Castle where she is staying with husbandPrince Philip, 99.
The Queen, who will celebrate her 95th birthday on April 21, wore a ready-for-spring ensemble, a light green coat, and a matching wide-brimmed hat adorned with yellow flowers. She accessorized with the Australian wattle brooch, representing the national flower of Australia — and of course, her signature gloves andLauner handbag.
Although the Queen did not wear a face mask, the ceremony was socially distanced. Themonarch received her COVID-19 vaccinationin January.
After a wreath was laid onQueen Elizabeth’s behalf, she viewed panels bearing the names of Australian war dead and a display of fallen airmen and women in the memorial cloister. She also met with Royal Australian Air Force personnel and signed a commemorative document.
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
Queen Elizabeth.STEVE REIGATE/POOL/AFP via Getty
Queen Elizabethhas not been seen in public since December, when she joined royal family members on the grounds of Windsor Castle for a Christmas celebration. However, she has continued to work via video calls and remote meetings.
Get the premiere issue of PEOPLERoyalsfor glamorous new photos and inside stories royals fans haven’t seen or read elsewhere! Subscribe atpeopleroyals.com/launch
The monarch also dealt with husbandPrince Philip’sfour-week hospitalizationfrom mid-February to mid-March, where he was treated for an infection and underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing condition. He is said to be “in good spirits,” a royal source tells PEOPLE.
His hospitalization coincided withPrince HarryandMeghan Markle’s bombshell interview withOprah Winfrey, and insiders say the Queen would have found some of the days she coped with the ongoing allegations as “lonely” without the man she calls her “strength and stay.”
source: people.com
