The Queen steps out as national emergency declared over record heatwave

Queen Elizabeth II made a surprise exit from Windsor Castle as the first ever ‘red warning’ was issued and a national emergency declared.

The Queen smiled in the face of a national emergency declaration as she made a surprise visit to the outskirts of London amid a scorching heatwave.

The Monarch and her daughter Princess Anne made the short journey from Windsor Castle to meet staff and patients at the Thames Hospice’s new Maidenhead centre.

It came as the UK Health Security Agency raised its heart warning to level four for the first time, declared when a “heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system”.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II walks with Jonathan Jones during a visit to officially open the new building of Thames Hospice in Maidenhead. Picture: AFP

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from a staff member during the visit. Picture: AFP

The Queen smiles during her Royal duties, as a national emergency was declared across Britain over an increasing heatwave. Picture: AFP

The extreme heat “red warning” was announced after forecasters predicted temperatures in Britain would pass 40C degrees for the first time on Monday and Tuesday.

The UKHSA said the heat level poses a threat of serious illness and death to people that are fit and healthy, not just the elderly, vulnerable and at high risk.

Health concerns for the 96-year-old Monarch increased after she was forced to sit out most of her Jubilee celebrations due to “discomfort” following months of mobility issues and a bout of Covid.

But as the country baked, she stepped out in a floral sundress with the help of a walking stick to tour the hospice and joke with patients.

“Typical, a phone goes off immediately,” the Queen reportedly joked as Graham White said his son was ringing during the royal audience.

Wife Pat White, a patient who has stage 4 cancer, described the meeting as a memory she’ll treasure, despite her husband’s phone going off.

The Queen jokes with Pat White, who’s husband’s phone rang during the Royal audience. Picture: Getty Images

The Queen signs a guest book to officially open the new building of Thames Hospice. Picture: AFP

“I could have killed him!,” she said after the meeting, according to Sky News.

“People think the Queen is all stiff upper lip, but she has a sense of humour.”

The Queen continued with Royal duties during “Level 3” warnings, which means that temperatures are likely to have a high impact on public life.

Temperatures are expected to climb over the weekend from the mid-20Cs, through the mid-30Cs, before reaching the 40Cs at the start of next week.

The Met Office said “substantial” changes would be required to working practices and daily routines with a high risk of failure to systems and equipment not designed to withstand extreme heat.

Pedestrians cool off with their feet in the water of the Trafalgar Square fountain, in central London. Picture: AFP

Joe Murphy, 6 cools down in the River Darent in Eynsford, United Kingdom as Britain a record heatwave. Picture: Getty Images

They forecast temperatures to surpass the highest ever recorded temperature in Britain, recorded at 38.7C in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden on July 25, 2019.

Temperatures are expected to peak next Tuesday, with an 80 per cent chance of a new maximum temperature and a 50 per cent chance of topping 40C degrees.

“It’s harder to cope with these types of temperatures in the UK because we’re just not used to them,” Hannah Cloke, a climate expert at the University of Reading, told Reuters, alluding to the country’s generally temperate, damp climate.

Originally published as The Queen steps out as national emergency declared over record heatwave