Yahoo News Queen photographed riding pony at Windsor Castle in first public appearance since lockdown
The Queen has made her first public appearance since the coronavirus lockdown began.
On Sunday, the monarch was photographed riding in the grounds of Windsor Castle on one of her favourite horses – a 14-year-old Fell Pony called Balmoral Fern.
The 94-year-old regularly rides in the grounds of Windsor and has been a breeder of thoroughbred racehorses throughout her reign.
The Queen enjoyed the sunny weather as she rode alongside her daughter Princess Anne, wearing a colourful headscarf and smartly dressed in a tweed jacket, jodhpurs, white gloves and boots.
The last public picture of the Queen was taken as she was driven away from Buckingham Palace to her Windsor Castle home on 19 March.
One of the Queen’s corgis – she has two named Candy and Vulcan – could be seen next to her as they both looked out of the car window.
The Queen carried out official duties the day before her planned departure, but held her weekly audience with prime minister Boris Johnson on the phone rather than face to face as usual.
The Queen has made two televised addresses to the nation during the lockdown, the first a speech to reassure the country that coronavirus would be overcome and those in isolation “will meet again”.
Her second address took place on VE Day, when she told viewers: “When I look at our country today, and see what we are willing to do to protect and support one another, I say with pride that we are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire.”
She continued: “Never give up, never despair – that was the message of VE Day.”
The Queen is currently staying with the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle and it is likely a small group of household staff have been isolating with her.
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