Queen 'delighted to be out of lockdown' and enjoying her social life

The Queen is enjoying being out of lockdown and getting back to her favourite social events, according to a royal author.

Phil Dampier, who has covered the Royal Family for 35 years, said the Queen had been on good form, and is looking pleased to be out and about again.

The Queen, 95, became a widow in April as her husband Prince Philip died at the age of 99.

But despite adjusting to life without him, she has been pictured smiling and in good spirits both at formal engagements and when enjoying social activities.

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Dampier told the MailOnline: "It’s been fantastic to see the Queen is such good form in recent weeks. She seems happy and relaxed and it’s a joy to see her smiling face.

"I think she is just delighted to be out of lockdown like the rest of us, and getting out and about doing the things she loves.

"She has her social life and you could see how happy she was to be at the Windsor Horse Show, one of her favourite events of the year, four days running."

The monarch was even pictured driving herself to the show, which is close to Windsor Castle, where she has been living for most of the time since March 2020.

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Dampier, who wrote The Duke of Hazard, a collection of Prince Philip's quotes, suggested the late Duke of Edinburgh would not have wanted the Queen to spend a long time in mourning after his passing.

He said: "I bet he would want her to carry on living life to the full.

"Like him the Queen is very practical and pragmatic, and she knows he would support her getting out and about."

In a tribute to Prince Philip after his death in April, Prince William said: "My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation.

"Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead. I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job."

Echoing some of that attitude, Prince Harry said: "He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, 'Oh do get on with it!'"

As lockdown restrictions have eased in England, the Queen has gradually added more in-person engagements to her workload, including hosting US president Joe Biden at Windsor Castle, and German chancellor Angela Merkel there too.

She travelled to Cornwall to host a reception for world leaders at the G7, and she's been to Scotland to carry out primarily outdoor engagements with her grandson William and her daughter Princess Anne.

Her delayed investiture ceremonies have been returning, with Prince Charles taking on the job of bestowing the honours.

And plans are being developed for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

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