The Queen has been seen using a walking stick for support for the first time as she attended a service at Westminster Abbey.
The monarch, 95, was pictured using a walking aid at a service marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion on Tuesday.
She had previously been seen using a walking stick in 2003 and 2004 after a knee operation, but it is thought to be the first time she has used one for comfort and not for a specific medical reason.
She was handed the aid as she got out of her state limousine, but appeared to be walking freely as she made her way inside.
The cobbled and uneven surface outside the abbey is thought to have played a part in the decision to use the walking stick.
The Queen, who is patron of the armed forces charity, was accompanied at the event by her daughter, Princess Anne, and arrived at the Poet’s Yard entrance rather than the Great West Door, which involves a shorter walk to her seat.
Both the walking stick and change of entrance are understood to have been tailored for the royal’s comfort.
The Queen last used a walking aid, aged 76, after having surgery to remove a torn cartilage from her right knee. She was pictured using a walking stick a number of times over the following year, but has not been seen to use one since recovering from the operation.
In 2018, it was reported that the Queen was still suffering from pain in her knees, but was reluctant to have further surgery due to the time off it would require.
The Queen joined a congregation at Westminster Abbey representing groups who have been supported by the Royal Legion over the past 100 years, including veterans and their families, as well as supporters, staff and volunteers.
The service was led by the Dean of Westminster, and the princess royal gave a reading, while the Legion’s president led the Act of Rededication, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to its work and service.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.