It’s been a rocky two years for the great Queen Elizabeth of England, but she had something of a reprieve this week as she celebrated her 96th birthday.
The legendary monarch, who has now sat the English throne for an incredible 70 years, is reported to have spent her special day at her estate in Sandringham, Norfolk, having made the journey so that she could feel closer to her late husband, Prince Philip.
A few hours ahead of her birthday on Thursday, the Royal Windsor Horse Show shared a photograph of Queen Elizabeth standing between two ponies, and the picture has proved – somewhat unsurprisingly – to be a big hit online.
There’s been rampant speculation of late as to the Queen’s overall health. Needless to say, times have been tough indeed for Her Majesty, not at all helped by worrying reports suggesting that her health has taken a downturn.
Queen Elizabeth has been forced to cancel or forego several high-profile engagements over the past few months, with sources at Buckingham Palace stating that she should “not be expected” at any future public events ahead of time.
Earlier this week, though, reports emerged suggesting that the Queen was preparing to make the journey to her estate in Sandringham.
As per the Daily Mirror, a royal source reportedly explained: “The Queen decided very recently that on her birthday she wanted to be as close as possible to her late husband and in an environment that was very close to both of their hearts.
“Sandringham holds so many special memories for the Queen and Prince Philip as well as the rest of the royal family.
“It’s certainly a positive step that Her Majesty is feeling well enough and rested to enjoy her upcoming mini-break which she thoroughly deserves to celebrate her birthday.”
Indeed, I think we can all agree that the Queen being fit enough to travel is good news. And the subsequent photo that was released yesterday (the Queen’s birthday) was a nice touch.
The picture, uploaded to the Royal Family’s official Instagram account, shows the queen standing between two of her two ponies, Bybeck Katie and Bybeck Nightingale, holding their reins while wearing a green, caped coat.
“Taken last month in the grounds of Windsor Castle, the photo is the fourth in a series of photos released by the Royal Windsor Horse Show, following images that celebrated the Golden Jubilee, the Platinum Jubilee and Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday,” the caption read.
We can only hope the Queen’s good health and spirits continue this year, as she’s set to hold her grand Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June to mark 70 years since she ascended to the British throne.
I just love seeing new photos of Queen Elizabeth defying Father Time. What an incredibly graceful and stoic woman she is.
If you, too, are a fan of the Queen, share this article on Facebook to celebrate her 96th birthday!
