At 95, The Queen Uses Walking Stick For Extra Support At Westminster Abbey

Oct 13, 2021

Queen Elizabeth II is the reigning monarch of England, and nothing seems to be stopping her from carrying out all of her royal duties, no matter what circumstance is thrown her way. Despite such a difficult year for the royal family, the Queen has continued to go above and beyond to carry out all of her responsibilities and see over all of the members of the royal family. 

She went through her unfortunate share of hardships during 2021, as her longtime husband, Prince Philip, passed away, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their official publicized departure from the family. With the couple’s departure, Harry and Meghan’s duties as active members of the royal family were forced to be redistributed to other members, with the Queen making all the big decisions and having the final say.

It’s safe to say that the Queen has had to deal with several overwhelming emotions throughout the past few months, and it seems like she now is really focusing on taking care of herself and her physical health. For the first time since 2004, the Queen was spotted using a walking stick for some extra support while out and about at Westminster Abbey on Oct. 12, 2021. 

It was a safe choice for the 95-year-old monarch to make sure she had as much support as possible while walking on such a cobbled and uneven surface as she attended a service at Westminster Abbey. Accompanied by her daughter, Princess Anne, the Queen carried out an important royal duty while still prioritizing her personal health and safety.

Despite plenty of ups and downs during the past year, the Queen had remained busy and made sure to carry out all of her royal responsibilities. According to The Mirror, she vacationed in Balmoral, Scotland, over the summer and talked about the “many happy memories” she had previously shared with Philip there prior to his death. 

In the fall months, the Queen had several royal engagements to tend to in Scotland, including the opening of the Scottish Parliament on Oct. 9, 2021. Afterward, she returned to England to start the Queen’s Baton Relay for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. 

According to The Guardian, the Queen was spotted using a walking stick while attending a service at Westminster Abbey on Oct. 12, 2021. The service marked the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion that day. Even though the Queen is 95 years old, seeing her use a walking stick came as a bit of a surprise to people since she hadn’t been seen publicly with one in close to two decades. 

The Guardian reported that the last time Her Majesty had been spotted with a walking stick was back in 2003 and 2004 following a knee operation she had. When she was 76 years old, she had surgery to remove a torn cartilage from her right knee. She was seen a number of times using a walking aid for medical purposes. However, in 2018, it was reported that the Queen was struggling as she still suffered pain in her knees, but chose not to have any more surgical procedures done so she wouldn’t have to take any more time away from carrying out her royal duties.

The most recent occurrence of the Queen being spotted with a walking aid is thought to be the first time since her knee surgery that she has used one for her own personal comfort as opposed to a medical reason, as per The Guardian. The Queen was handed the walking aid when she first stepped out of her limousine as the ground below was very uneven. However, the Queen was later spotted walking without the added assistance of the walking stick as she made her way inside the church.

However, the Queen arrived at the Poet’s Yard entrance as opposed to the typical Great West Door, making the walk to her seat inside much shorter, as per The Guardian. She was also accompanied by her daughter, Anne. Both the addition of the walking stick and the change of entrance were reported to be used to provide more comfort to Her Majesty. The Mirror reported that the Queen looked regal, wearing a royal blue coat and a matching hat.

The service at Westminster Abbey was led by the Dean of Westminster, with the Royal Legion’s president leading the Act of Rededication, highlighting the organization’s commitment to its service to the country, as per The Guardian. It represented groups who have been supported by the Royal Legion, including veterans, veterans’ families, supporters, staff, and volunteers. 

The Royal Legion’s president described the centenary as a “very proud moment” with the organization’s patron, the Queen, there. After the service ended, the Queen was spotted using her walking stick again, according to The Mirror.

What do you think about the Queen using a walking stick? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family members and friends, too.