Queen pays understated tribute to Ukraine in first in-person meeting since catching COVID

The Queen has paid tribute to people fleeing the war in Ukraine during her first in-person meeting since catching COVID.

As she received Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle on Monday, a vase of bright blue and yellow flowers was placed prominently on the desk behind her.

The blue and yellow Ukranian flag has been displayed across the globe since Russia invaded the country, in a show of support for its people.

The 95-year-old, who traditionally takes a neutral stand on politics, last week made a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine appeal to help civilians affected by the conflict.

In her first personal engagement since catching coronavirus, the Queen met with the Canadian Prime Minister at her Berkshire home ahead of his talks with Boris Johnson and their Dutch counterpart Mark Rutteover the Ukraine crisis.

Following the meeting, Trudeau praised the monarch's "insightful and perspicacious" manner.

"I have the privilege of having known her majesty for about 45 years," he said, referring to the fact that he first met the Queen as a child when his father Pierre was Canada's Prime Minister.

He added: "I can tell you in my conversation with her this morning she was as insightful and perspicacious as ever, very interested in what's going on.

"We had a really useful, for me anyway, conversation about global events, as we always do."

The Queen, 95, tested positive for coronavirus on 20 February, just days after Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall both contracted the virus.

The monarch, who is also Queen of Canada, was pictured standing and smiling warmly at Mr Trudeau as he held her right hand in both of his.

She was not pictured with the walking stick she has been using of late.

Watch: Queen welcomes Canadian PM at first in-person audience since catching COVID

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Last Tuesday, the Prince of Wales said his mother was “a lot better now”, and the head of state was pictured holding her first virtual audiences since her coronavirus diagnosis.

The nation’s longest-reigning monarch, who reached her Platinum Jubilee milestone last month, recently spent more than three months resting, on doctors’ orders.

Last autumn she pulled out of attending the Cop26 climate change summit, the Festival of Remembrance and then the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph service due to a sprained back. She also missed the Church of England’s General Synod.

The Queen now regularly uses a walking stick and has been pictured looking frailer recently.

She remarked during a Windsor Castle audience last month: “Well, as you can see, I can’t move.”