The Queen appeared upbeat as she returned to Windsor Castle for her first in-person engagement after enjoying a week long break for her 96th birthday at Sandringham.

Her Majesty met with Swiss President Ignazio Cassis and his wife Paolo for the face-to-face meeting without the aid of a waking stick, despite experiencing mobility issues in recent months.

The Queen wore a blue and gray paisley print dress and accessorised the outfit with a fruit-themed sapphire and diamond grapes brooch which she inherited from the Queen Mother.

The 96 year old Monarch was first spotted using a walking stick while attending a service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on October 12, 2021. She surprised royal watchers after stepping out of her vehicle with the aid of a black metal cane that featured a pine handle.

She made light of her new accessory during a meeting with defence service personnel at Windsor Castle on February 16, comically declaring “well, as you can see, I can’t move” after she was asked how she was doing.

The Queen recently celebrated her milestone 96th birthday on Thursday, April 21 with her official birthday to be celebrated on June 2 when a number of public celebrations will take place at Buckingham Palace. The April 21 birthday celebrations were spent privately with the Queen and her close family. She has travelled to her Sandringham Estate to celebrate the milestone. The birthday milestone comes at a particularly significant time as the Monarch also celebrates her Platinum Jubilee this year, marking an incredible 70 years on the throne.

The recent birthday celebrations were likely a welcomed change of pace for the Queen following her ongoing health battles. During a recent virtual visit to the Royal London Hospital on Wednesday, April 6, Her Majesty opened up about her battle with Covid-19 revealing to former patients and hospital staff that the virus “does leave one very tired and exhausted”.

“This horrible pandemic. It’s not a nice result,” she said.