Queen admits 'I can't move' in first appearance since Prince Andrew settlement
The Queen struggled to walk during her audience at Windsor Castle yesterday
The Queen acknowledged her frailty for the first time this week, admitting she couldn't move during a royal engagement.
- The Queen revealed she was struggling with mobility during a royal engagement, just two days after Prince Andrew's sex abuse case was settled.
- Her Majesty admitted, 'I can't move', to her guests at Windsor Castle yesterday as she leaned on a cane for support.
- In other royal news, Queen's favorite chocolates spotted by eagle-eyed fans during latest engagement.
The Queen acknowledged her frail condition for the first time during a royal engagement at Windsor Castle yesterday, after months of speculation over the 95-year-old monarch's health.
Her Majesty welcomed the incoming Defence Services Secretary, Major General Eldon Millar, and his predecessor, Rear Admiral James Macleod, for a face-to-face audience in her famous Oak Room on Wednesday.
The meeting, which likely lasted approximately 15 minutes, comes just a week after it was confirmed that Prince Charles has Covid for a second time. Judging by its in-person nature, it's safe to say that the Queen—who was exposed to the virus by her eldest son on 8 February—has mercifully escaped infection.
However, it doesn't look like Her Majesty's health is completely in the clear either.
The British sovereign appeared unable to make herself visible to her arriving guests, as she leaned on a cane and shuffled her feet. Instead, she was left to signal her presence by loudly announcing, "I'm here!"
When the military officers asked about her wellbeing, she replied, "Well, as you can see, I can't move."
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The candid admission marks the first time the Queen has publicly mentioned having mobility issues since the onset of her recent health woes. Since late 2021, Her Majesty's physical state has been the source of widespread concern amongst royal fans. The hardworking monarch was forced to cancel multiple engagements due to undisclosed health issues and was even hospitalized overnight for 'preliminary investigations.'
It's been reported that the Queen was using the cane as she was feeling stiff, rather than because she was unwell or injured. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on her health status.
The audience occurred just a couple of days after Prince Andrew's sex abuse case was settled, with the disgraced royal agreeing to give reported £10m in damages to his accuser, Virginia Giuffre. It's understood that the Queen is 'likely' to pay for the settlement out of her private income. Prince Andrew's royal patronages and military honors have since been revoked and he has even been 'banned' from the Platinum Jubilee 2022.
Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
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