Queen leaves walking stick behind to meet Swiss president

Despite recent concerns for her mobility, the Queen was beaming and stood unaided as she met with the Swiss President at Windsor Castle.

The Queen was pictured beaming and walking unaided as she greeted the president of Switzerland for her first official engagement since returning to Windsor Castle after a week’s break.

She returned to Windsor on Wednesday from Sandringham, where she spent her 96th birthday last week. She smiled broadly as she shook hands and posed for photographs with President Cassis and his wife, Paola, in the Oak Room yesterday (Thursday).

Queen Elizabeth II greets Switzerland's President Ignazio Cassis - her first official engagement since returning to Windsor Castle after a week’s break. Picture: AFP

The Queen wore a blue and grey paisley-style silk dress and her sapphire and diamond brooch of fruit, which she inherited from the Queen Mother. Despite recent concerns for her mobility she stood freely without her walking stick.

This month she pulled out of the Royal Maundy service for the first time since 1970 and was represented by the Prince of Wales. Although she was present at a memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh in March, she did not go to an earlier service to mark Commonwealth Day amid concerns for her comfort.

Queen Elizabeth II poses for a photograph with Ignazio Cassis and his wife Paola Cassis. Picture: AFP

She hopes to attend the state opening of parliament on May 10, Buckingham Palace said. Confirmation will come on the day, which is now the custom for all of her engagements.

During her reign the Queen has opened parliament on all but two occasions. The exceptions were in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively.

A bout of Covid-19 in February led to the cancellation of other engagements; the Queen said that it had left her exhausted. Celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee are just over a month away.

The Times