Queen Elizabeth II received Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle on Monday, the first official face-to-face engagement since the sovereign was infected with COVID-19.
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The Canadian leader, visiting the UK to discuss the war in Ukraine with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, took the sovereign’s ungloved hand in his hands and they spoke, all smiles.
Behind them, on a desk, was a bouquet of yellow and blue flowers, the colors of Ukraine’s flag, which was seen as a subtle sign of support for the country invaded by Russia.
Last week, the queen made a “generous donation”, in an unspecified amount, to a coalition of humanitarian associations, to help refugees fleeing Ukraine following the invasion of the country by Russia.
Elizabeth II is the queen of the United Kingdom, but also of Canada, where she has visited more than twenty times. Justin Trudeau met her several times as a child, through his father, Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada’s longest-serving heads of government.
“I have had the privilege of knowing Her Majesty for regarding 45 years now. And I can assure you that during my conversation with her this morning, she was more insightful than ever and very interested in what is happening,” said the Canadian leader during a press conference with Boris Johnson.
He added that he spoke a little with the sovereign “regarding the situations we are facing, drawing on her long experience, she who has seen so much in recent decades”.
Elizabeth II, who turns 96 next month, tested positive for coronavirus on February 20.
After canceling engagements two weeks ago, the Queen last week held several audiences with diplomats by videoconference from Windsor Castle, where she has been residing since the pandemic.
Since a night spent in the hospital in October for examinations, the nature of which has never been specified, the appearances of the sovereign, more frail than in the past, have become rare.
But the palace recently announced a resumption of its public activities, including a ceremony on March 29 at Westminster Abbey in memory of Prince Philip, her husband who died last year.
Elizabeth II passed the milestone of 70 years of reign on February 6, and four days of festivities are planned in June in the United Kingdom to celebrate this platinum jubilee.
