Queen's green outfit in COP26 speech pays tribute to Prince Philip's life-long passion

The Queen's green outfit in her COP26 speech on Monday included a special nod to her late husband, Prince Philip. 

• The Queen paid a touching tribute to her late husband, Prince Philip, during her COP26 speech on Monday. 
• Her Majesty nodded to the Duke of Edinburgh's conservation efforts with the inclusion of a special accessory. 
• In other royal news, Prince William and Kate Middleton step in for the Queen as Her Majesty declares, 'I couldn't be more proud'.

The Queen made a touching gesture to her late husband in her most recent public engagement, much to the delight of her adoring fans. 

Her Majesty delivered a powerful speech from Windsor Castle for the attendees of COP26 climate summit in Glasgow on Monday, urging world leaders to take action on the environment "for our children and our children's children." 

The 95-year-old monarch had originally intended to travel to Scotland for the high-profile event's reception but was forced to pull out last week due to her ongoing health concerns. Her wellbeing has been the subject of widespread interest over the past month, with the latest photos of the Queen driving around her estate giving the public a glimmer of hope for her speedy recovery. 

Her Majesty's outfit during the virtual speech at COP26 has also caught the attention of eagle-eyed royal fans. The Queen dressed fittingly for the conference's environmental theme, sharing her 4 minute-long video message in a Kerry green gown complete with a matching pearl necklace and earrings. She also paid tribute to Prince Philip, who died aged 99 in April, with the addition of a sentimental adornment. 

Known for making a statement with her accessories, the Head of State jazzed up the simple dress by wearing a stunning butterfly brooch in honor of her late husband's lifelong commitment to wildfire conservation. The diamond and ruby heirloom, which was was given to the Queen by Dowager Countess of Onslow as a wedding gift in 1947, has made few appearances over the course of the monarch's 69-year-long reign. Her Majesty is rarely spotted with the precious piece, preferring to keep it safely locked up in her jewellery box. 

"Given the purpose of the summit, the brooch and pearls are purposely understated, and perhaps the brooch is also a nod to Prince Philip's longstanding commitment to the environment," jeweller Tobias Kormind told Express.co.uk. 

The Queen also commemorated the Duke of Edinburgh's legacy with a framed 1988 photo of the late royal. In the eye-catching image, Prince Philip can be seen watching the migration of the Monarch butterflies in Mexico. The duke was famously passionate about protecting the endangered species, having learnt of their importance to the planet's health during his tenure as the President of the World Wide Fund for Nature.