display
Runnymede (AP) - The British Queen Elizabeth II showed up outside Windsor Castle for the first time this year on Wednesday.
She visited a war memorial for Commonwealth soldiers in Runnymede, Surrey, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Australian Air Force RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force).
In keeping with the spring-like weather, the Queen wore a lime-green costume with a matching hat with white flowers attached.
The monarch, who will celebrate her 95th birthday in a few weeks, seemed to be in high spirits.
In pictures she could be seen with a beaming smile.
As the British news agency PA reported, it is said to have jokingly asked an Australian pilot stationed in Great Britain whether he would be sent out "to chase after Russians".
So he replied: "Correct, ma'am, and that's a lot of fun for us."
display
Only a few days ago there had been reports of Russian fighter jets which are said to have come close to British airspace over the Shetland Islands and were intercepted by aircraft of the Royal Air Force.
The Queen had withdrawn to Windsor Castle with her husband Prince Philip (99) since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and so far only shown in public on a few occasions.
She and Philip have been vaccinated at least one time.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210331-99-44533 / 3
Tweets from the palace about visiting Runnymede