Queen Elizabeth II has appeared for the first time since the celebrations to mark her 70-year reign, after being pictured with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to mark the Order of the Garter service.
The 96-year-old monarch was photographed on Monday wearing a silver-white gown, her blue Garter sash and holding a walking stick. She was stood between Charles and Camilla, who were in their grand velvet Garter robes.
The photograph was taken at Windsor Castle before the Garter service in St George’s Chapel.
On the queen’s arm was a matching silver handbag and in her hand her glasses. She was also wearing her Garter star badge, her bow brooch and silver shoes.
The queen did not take part in the traditional procession of Garter Knights and Ladies through the grounds of the Berkshire castle.
Given her continuing mobility issues, this was expected and in past years she has travelled by car to the place of worship.
She did attend the behind-the-scenes lunch and investiture ceremony, however.
12 portraits of Queen Elizabeth II - in pictures
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The most recent official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle, was for her platinum jubilee. The image is part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition, on view at Windsor Castle until September 26. Photo: Ranald Mackechnie -
This portrait, issued by the Royal Collection Trust, was taken by photographer Dorothy Wilding in 1952, and is featured in the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Accession exhibition, on view at Buckingham Palace until October 2. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
This portrait of Queen Elizabeth by British artist Lucian Freud was finished in 2001 and caused an outcry. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Reuters -
The monarch was featured in Andy Warhol's 'Reigning Queens' series of portraits created in 1985. The pop art print, although not officially commissioned, was later brought into the Royal Collection. The image is a part of Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
This image of Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day on June 2, 1953, was taken by royal photographer Cecil Beaton, and remains one of the most famous portraits of the monarch. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II painted by Pietro Annigoni, was finished in 1956 and commissioned by the Fishmongers Company in the City of London. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. PA -
Michael Leonard's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was painted for her 60th birthday, and commissioned by 'Reader's Digest'. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Reader's Digest / Shutterstock -
Nigerian artist Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy painted this portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which was commissioned by the Commonwealth to mark her 2002 golden jubilee on March 10, 2002. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
Artist Chris Levine made headlines with his controversial portrait titled 'Lightness of Being', which shows the queen with her eyes closed. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
The 1963 plaster cast known as the 'Dressed Head' by Arnold Machin, provided the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to be used on British stamps from 1967. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Getty Images -
This recent portrait of the monarch titled 'Algorithm Queen', was painted by an ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist called Ai-Da Robot for the platinum jubilee. -
Ralph Heimans's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was commissioned to mark her 60 years on the throne and hung in the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Dean and Chapter of Westminster / AFP
It is the first time the queen has been pictured since the four days of festivities celebrating her platinum jubilee last week.
This year’s Garter Day was beset by an internal struggle after the disgraced Duke of York was forced to remain out of sight during the procession after a “family decision” was taken to limit his appearance to the lunch and investiture ceremony.
Previously unseen home movies show 'fun behind the formality’ of Queen Elizabeth's life - in pictures
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Previously unseen videos from Queen Elizabeth II's personal archive have been released, showing touching glimpses of “the fun behind the formality” of her royal life. Here Princess Margaret and then Princess Elizabeth pose with their father King George VI, on board the 'HMS Vanguard', in 1947. All photos: BBC/PA -
Princess Elizabeth showing off her new engagement ring soon after Prince Philip's marriage proposal at Balmoral, in 1946. -
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at Balmoral in 1939. -
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at Royal Lodge in Windsor in 1940. -
Princess Elizabeth with her father, then Duke of York, in the garden of their home 145 Piccadilly, London, in 1930. -
Princess Elizabeth with her uncle Prince George the Duke of Kent at Windsor Castle in 1930. -
A 20-year-old Princess Elizabeth enjoys a visit to South Africa in 1947. -
Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth with their father King George VI at Royal Lodge in Windsor in 1940. -
King George VI at Balmoral in August 1939. -
Princess Elizabeth with her grandmother Queen Mary. -
Princess Elizabeth at Royal Natal National Park during a visit to South Africa in 1947. -
Princess Elizabeth at Balmoral in 1946. -
Princess Margaret, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip at a picnic at Balmoral in 1946. -
Brothers Edward, the Prince of Wales, and Prince Albert, the Duke of York. -
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at Balmoral in 1938. -
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret travelling to South Africa in 1947.
The Duchess of Cornwall was in the procession for the first time, having been appointed a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter.
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair was also appointed to the oldest and most senior British Order of Chivalry as a Knight Companion. His honour prompted a noisy protest outside the castle walls by around 100 Stop the War activists, who at one point chanted “Tony Blair: war criminal”.
