Since the night spent by Queen Elizabeth in the hospital at the end of October, the subjects of Her Gracious Majesty, aged 95, have had some concerns about her state of health, especially since she was absent Sunday at an official ceremony.
The news this Wednesday should reassure them a little.
Today she received the British Chief of Staff Nick Carter.
"His Majesty received General Sir Nicholas Carter at Windsor Castle today," Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday in a terse statement.
Images of the encounter show her standing in a floral dress talking to the uniformed soldier, who is about to leave his post, in the presence of a small dog at the entrance to the room.
To the soldier who said he was himself amazed at his longevity in his post (eight years), she replied: "I suppose when you are at such a post, it is easier to continue, isn't it?
"I think that's true, although I think at some point it's time to move on," replied Nick Carter.
A lean agenda
Sunday, she was to make her return in public by observing from a balcony a ceremony in tribute to the victims of wars.
But her participation was canceled at the last minute, the palace explaining that she had hurt her back.
“Her Majesty is disappointed to miss the ceremony,” Buckingham Palace said.
According to the local press, her doctors considered it unreasonable for her to drive and stand up.
Nevertheless, reassuring for the British, the queen was seen at the beginning of November at the wheel of her Jaguar on her grounds of Windsor Castle, about forty kilometers west of London, now her main place of residence.
👑NEW: The Queen has been seen for the first time since being admitted to hospital as she took a drive on the Windsor estate.
Her Majesty, 95, was alone at the wheel of her Jaguar estate https://t.co/WITLs3BUgA
- The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 1, 2021
Very busy at the beginning of October, the queen's agenda was greatly reduced.
Elizabeth II notably canceled her trip to COP26, in Glasgow (Scotland), where Princes Charles and William represented the royal family, as well as a visit to Northern Ireland.
It has since held hearings by videoconference.
Elizabeth II holds the record for longevity on the British throne, which she acceded in 1952. She remains a beloved personality in Britain and around the world, praised for having preserved the monarchy despite the major transformations undergone by the United Kingdom during her reign, from decolonization to Brexit, and despite the many crises shaking her, such as the death of Diana in 1997.
After the death of her husband Prince Philip on April 9, Elizabeth II confided to her son, Prince Andrew, that she felt "a great void".
