First pictures of Queen Elizabeth II since mystery illness as royal resumes official duties

The 95-year-old monarch cancelled her appearance at the COP26 climate summit despite returning to official duties after the unknown ailment.

The Queen is back to work, albeit via video link, a week after she was taken to hospital and placed on rest orders for a mystery illness.

The 95-year-old monarch smiled in a yellow dress and pearls during the virtual appearance from Windsor Castle on Wednesday to receive new ambassadors from South Korea and Switzerland.

Despite returning to “light duties”, the palace confirmed she will no longer lead a royal delegation at the COP26 climate summit in Scotland next week.

The Queen was reportedly “disappointed” not to attend the reception on November 1 but will deliver an address via a recorded video message.

An anonymous source quoted by The Sun claimed Her Majesty had “regretfully decided” to follow her doctor’s advice to rest.

Buckingham Palace said in an earlier statement that the Queen participated in “light duties” following the cancellation of a planned trip to Northern Ireland last week.

Her last public event was alongside British prime minister Boris Johnson at Windsor Castle for attendees of the government’s global investment summit on October 19.

She stayed overnight at London’s King Edward VII private hospital after “preliminary investigations” for an unspecified illness.

“Following medical advice to rest for a few days, the Queen attended hospital on Wednesday afternoon for some preliminary investigations, returning to Windsor Castle at lunchtime today, and remains in good spirits,” the palace said in a statement last week.

Her first hospital visit since 2013 raised health concerns for the world’s longest-reigning monarch, who has been seen using a walking stick for the first time at recent public appearances.

She was seated during her appearance on Wednesday to welcome Gunn Kim and wife Hee Jung Lee from the Republic of Korea, and Markus Leitner and his wife Nicole Leitner from the Swiss Confederates.

The palace said they presented The Queen with a formal letter from their Head of State confirming they can speak on behalf of their countries.

PRINCE ANDREW TO MISS PLATINUM JUBILEE EVENTS

Prince Andrew will reportedly be kept away from all Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

According to a source quoted in The Sun: “The plan is for him to be invisible during celebrations.”

It comes as Prince Andrew faces a lawsuit from Aussie-based Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a former sex slave of Jeffrey Epstein. She is suing the 61-year-old for sexual assault, including rape in the first degree, in 2001 when she was 17.

The case is due to start on July 14 – just five weeks after the celebrations that run from June 2-5.

Originally published as First pictures of Queen Elizabeth II since mystery illness as royal resumes official duties