Queen Elizabeth II greets Trudeau in person after Covid scare

The queen resumed her public duties last week, meeting foreign diplomats by videolink

Queen Elizabeth II on Monday met visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in her first in-person engagement since falling ill with Covid-19.

The 95-year-old monarch, who is also queen of Canada, chatted with Trudeau after he jetted in for talks on the conflict in Ukraine with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte.

In what could be seen as another subtle sign of support, she and Trudeau shook hands in front of table at her Windsor Castle home, west of London, with a large bouquet of yellow and blue flowers -- the colours of Ukraine.

"I was able to talk a little bit about the situations we're facing and draw on her long experience for having seen much over these past decades," he told reporters.

The queen, who came to the throne in 1952, has visited Canada more than 20 times and in the 1970s met a young Trudeau when his father, Pierre, was prime minister.

- 'A lot better' -

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

Her public appearances have become rarer since, and in one recent audience she complained of mobility problems. She has been seen walking with a stick, and is visibly frailer.

She returned to public engagements last week, hosting a number of new foreign ambassadors by videolink, and is due at two public events next week and later this month.

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

Senior royals are preparing for a series of overseas visits in the coming weeks, including Charles and his second wife Camilla, heading to Ireland.

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