Queen makes surprise appearance in stunning yellow hat for exclusive first ride on London’s Elizabeth line

The Queen made a surprise appearance in Paddington on Tuesday, May 17, as she joined her son Prince Edward to mark the launch of the Elizabeth Line, London's new Crossrail underground service.

• The Queen made a surprise appearance in Paddington, London today despite her ongoing mobility issues.
• The Queen was joined by Prince Edward, the youngest of the Queen's children at the launch of this line.
• In other royal news, Prince Harry opens up on Archie and Lilibet's 'age of innocence' as he discusses protecting them from online dangers.

The Queen made a surprise appearance in Paddington to mark the launch of the tube line named after her, the Elizabeth Line. The Queen looked cheerful in a matching bright yellow ensemble as she used a walking stick to help her exit the car and take the lift to the underground station. 

The Queen and Prince Edward were joined by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Andy Byford, the Transport for London Commissioner as they marked the completion of London's Crossrail. 

The Queen was welcomed by a children's choir before she unveiled a plaque and then used a commemorative Oyster card that allowed her to purchase the first-ever ticket for the Elizabeth line.

The Queen and the Earl traveled from Paddington to Tottenham Court Road before turning around and returning to Paddington. 

The Elizabeth Line is set to officially open on May 24, 2022, and will span from Essex to Reading. The line will also connect Heathrow Airport, Liverpool Street Station, and Canary Wharf. 

The project was expected to be completed in December 2018 but due to a variety of delays including the pandemic, the works were not completed until 2022. The budget for the project was set at £14.8 billion in 2010, but the final total cost of the Elizabeth line was £18.9 million, with £5.1 billion coming from government spending.

Although the Queen is suffering from ongoing mobility problems, Her Majesty has been able to make appearances at a variety of events ahead of the Platinum Jubilee.

At the weekend, the Queen beamed with joy at Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle. The Queen was a good sport at this event and many said that Her Majesty's iconic gesture to a comedian as he makes an awkward joke was a 'perfect response.'