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Queen Elizabeth back to work with first official engagements after hospital stay

She has been on rest orders for the last week and even spent time in hospital, but Queen Elizabeth has re-emerged again. See the first pics.

Queen Elizabeth hospitalised after suddenly cancelling tour

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has re-emerged after rest orders and a hospital stay and is already back to work, with the first pictures revealing the 95-year-old back to official duties.

Last Wednesday, the Queen cancelled a planned trip to Northern Ireland and was told to rest for a number of days on medical advice in a decision so late reporters had already arrived on the ground.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the news, revealing the 95-year-old “reluctantly accepted medical advice” to cancel the visit, where she was expected to undertake a number of appearances to mark Northern Ireland’s centenary.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II appears on a screen via videolink. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II appears on a screen via videolink. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP
Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP
Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP

The Palace said the Queen remains “in good spirits” but was “disappointed” that she was unable to attend.

She subsequently spent a night in the private King Edward VII’s Hospital — her first overnight stay at a medical facility in at least eight years — for “preliminary investigations”. It is understood the medical advice is unrelated to coronavirus.

The Queen held a virtual audience in her first appearance. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP
The Queen held a virtual audience in her first appearance. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP

Just seven days later, the “smiling” monarch has re-emerged from Windsor Castle — on a screen nevertheless — with two video calls to the new ambassador from the Republic of Korea, Gunn Kim and his wife Hee Jung Lee, and the Ambassador of Switzerland, Markus Leitner and his wife.

The Palace said she is participating in “light duties”.

The Queen received South Korea's Ambassador to the UK, Gunn Kim. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP
The Queen received South Korea's Ambassador to the UK, Gunn Kim. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP
The Queen also appeared with Switzerland's Ambassador to the UK, Markus Leitner, accompanied by his wife Nicole Leitner. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP
The Queen also appeared with Switzerland's Ambassador to the UK, Markus Leitner, accompanied by his wife Nicole Leitner. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP
The pictures are the first time we’ve seen the Queen since her illness. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP
The pictures are the first time we’ve seen the Queen since her illness. Picture: Victoria Jones / AFP

It is the first time Elizabeth has been seen since she was seen carrying alongside UK PM Boris Johnson at a global investment summit on October 19.

She was seen in a lemon yellow dress and pearl necklace as she greeted ambassador Kim, who was dressed in traditional Korean clothing.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II attends a reception to mark the Global Investment Summit, at Windsor Castle on October 19. It is the last time she has appeared in public. Picture: Arthur Edwards/ AFP
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II attends a reception to mark the Global Investment Summit, at Windsor Castle on October 19. It is the last time she has appeared in public. Picture: Arthur Edwards/ AFP

While the Queen may be back to work, a decision on whether she will attend the highly politicised climate change summit in Glasgow on November 1 is yet to be announced.

She is still listed as attending on the royal family’s website, however.

Sky News’ Rhiannon Mills said virtual audiences had become commonplace during the Covid-19 pandemic for the Queen as the Palace attempts to steer the ageing royal through the deadly pandemic.

“No it’s not out and about in public, but it is her first official engagement,” Ms Mills said.

A police officer stands on duty outside King Edward VII's Hospital in central London. Picture: Tolga Akmen / AFP
A police officer stands on duty outside King Edward VII's Hospital in central London. Picture: Tolga Akmen / AFP

She referred to the Queen’s “controversial” hospital stay because “the Palace wouldn’t tell us what exactly those tests were for.

“It was slightly unusual because we were led to believe that she was resting at Windsor, instead doctors, under the ultimate caution, had decided that she should spend a night in hospital.

“It is the reassurance that people need, there was understandably some concern, she is 95-yerars-old after all.”

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/queen-elizabeth-back-to-work-with-first-official-engagements-after-hospital-stay/news-story/3fa42fa335d480dc22f61ab7af1605e5