At 94 years old, Queen Elizabeth is still riding horses, a passion she has nurtured since her childhood. However, recent photos of the royal doing what she loves most have worried some of her followers.
On June 1, Queen Elizabeth was pictured horseback-riding at the Windsor grounds. It was the first time the monarch has been seen in public doing her normal activities since the coronavirus lockdown.
According to royal expert Hugo Vickers, this moment has been especially significant to the British people because it showed that the Queen, who is 94 years old, is still in good health, amid the threats of the virus. It's apparently a good sign to see the royal looking so well despite being in lockdown for over three months.
Horseback-riding has been the Queen's favorite form of exercise since she was a young girl. She also loves walking her dogs in the vast grounds of her palatial residences.
But social media, royal fans expressed their concern for the Queen's safety since she doesn't wear a helmet when she's up on a horse. If Queen Elizabeth's protection against coronavirus has been too specific and detailed, some of the people wondered why her royal aides still let her horse ride without a protective gear, especially at her age.
Sally Bedell Smith, another royal expert, said that the Queen always opts for a headscarf when she's out riding. While she follows the government's health and safety advice against coronavirus, she's apparently not one to observe caution and common sense when she's on her horse.
The royal expert said the Queen's trainer, Ian Balding, was told by the Queen herself that she's not used to wearing crash helmet because it ruins her hair. It apparently takes time to do the Queen's iconic hairstyle and in order to be practical, she doesn't wear a helmet in case she has a royal engagement soon after her ride. Apparently, she has carried over this habit even today.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth remains in isolation with her husband, Prince Philip, at Windsor Castle. Buckingham Palace announced in the middle of May that the royals will be staying put at the country residence for the foreseeable future as the threats of coronavirus loom.
Queen Elizabeth is not expected to travel to Balmoral for the summer. She is also not expected to hold royal engagements perhaps until the fall, if the government has given clearance for in-person gatherings to resume.
Royal fans think that the Queen has essentially retired from the public service because this coronavirus crisis is not expected to go away anytime soon. Buckingham Palace, however, has not commented on these speculations and they are following the government's directed one phase at a time.
