The Queen sent a message of support to Ukraine in her first appearance after Covid

The Queen has delivered a secret message to those caught up in the Ukraine conflict as she meets Canada’s Justin Trudeau.

The Queen has put to rest growing fears for her health with a return to in-person meetings after beating Covid-19.

Although visibly frailer, she appeared smiling and laughing after shaking hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in front of a large bouquet of yellow and blue flowers — the colours of Ukraine — in what could be seen as a subtle sign of support.

The Queen met with Trudeau during his visit to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and their Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte.

She greeted Trudeau at her Windsor Castle home, west of London, without the walking stick she has previously been using.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as they meet for an audience at the Windsor Castle. Picture: AFP.

Her “mild” symptoms of Covid-19 heightened fears for her health that have lingered since she had an unscheduled overnight stay in hospital last October.

She was forced to slow down on medical advice and cancelled a number of public engagements, including hosting world leaders at the UN climate change summit last November.

Her public appearances have become rarer since, and in one recent audience she complained of mobility problems.

The meeting with Trudeau was her first in-person appearance since being Buckingham Palace announced on February 20 that the queen had tested positive for coronavirus.

Queen Elizabeth II appears on a screen via videolink from Windsor Castle in her first public event since recovering from Covid. Picture: Getty Images.

Last week the Queen quietly supported the people of Ukraine with a “generous” donation in a remarkable break from the Royal family’s longstanding tradition of remaining politically silent.

Prince Charles told members of the public on a royal visit last week that his mother, who turns 96 next month, was now feeling “a lot better”.

Next Monday, she is scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in central London and a memorial for her late husband at the same venue on March 29.

Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years, died aged 99 last April.

The Queen’s in-person return at Windsor Castle comes amid reports she will permanently move out of Buckingham Palace to live in her weekend home full time.

The move was based on an ongoing “reservicing” of the palace and the Queen’s preference for Windsor Castle, where she spent most of her time with Prince Phillip, according to The Times of London.

“Windsor is the place she loves,” one of her acquaintances, royal author and deputy lord lieutenant of Berkshire Hugo Vickers, told the UK Times.

“She has her memories with Prince Philip there, she has her ponies there and family nearby. It makes sense.”

- with AFP

Originally published as The Queen sent a message of support to Ukraine in her first appearance after Covid