Lip service! Her Majesty dons bright red lippy and her signature headscarf ahead of the 70th anniversary of becoming Queen as she's driven through the Sandringham Estate
The Queen cut an elegant figure today as she donned a bright lipstick and her signature headscarf as she was driven in her Land Rover in Sandringham ahead of the 70th anniversary of her father's death this weekend.
Her Majesty, 95, is staying in Prince Philips's beloved Wood Farm cottage on the Sandringham estate for the first time without him after spending the festive period at Windsor Castle.
Wearing her signature silk head scarf, the Queen donned a red and gold look with a bright pop of lipstick as she was driven through the estate this afternoon.
She is expected to spend Accession Day, on February 6, with her family during an extended break at the cottage and will mark her Platinum Jubilee in private.
The Queen, 95, appeared in high spirits today as she was driven in her Land Rover in Sandringham ahead of the 70th anniversary of her father's death this weekend
She is expected to spend Accession Day, on February 6, with her family during an extended break at the cottage and will mark her Platinum Jubilee in private
She opted for a simple make-up look, with a touch of light foundation and a pink lip stick.
Meanwhile she also donned a pair of tinted glasses for the outing.
Later, as the monarch returned to Wood Farm, the Queen sat in the backseat of her chauffeur driven vehicle and removed her headscarf and glasses. The monarch usually spends the festive period at Sandringham, but has remained at Windsor Castle since the autumn as a Covid precaution and held muted Christmas celebrations with Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex.
In preparation for the anniversary of her father George VI on February 6, 1952, the Queen made a special trip by helicopter followed by a short drive by car to Norfolk last month.
Wearing her signature silk head scarf, the Queen donned a red and gold look while also wearing glasses as she was driven around her Sandringham estate
As she returned to Wood Farm this lunchtime, the monarch travelled in the back seat of her car, removing her headscarf and glasses
A source told the Mail on Sunday: 'Everything is being put in order for the Queen's visit.
'We've been told that she will stay at Wood Farm, rather than the main house, which is nice as that always had a special place in his heart.'
Wood Farm was where Philip, her husband of 73 years who passed away aged 99, largely spent the last few years of his life following his retirement.
The Queen has stayed in the cottage before, but it will be the first time since Philip died in April last year.
Wood Farm (pictured), an unassuming cottage on the edge of the Sandringham Estate close to the Norfolk coastline
She last visited the estate in early November and would normally have spent the weekend after Halloween at Sandringham with Philip and did not want to miss the occasion.
The Queen was only 25 and on holiday in Kenya with Prince Philip at the time of her father's death - making her the first monarch to ascend the throne while aboard in 200 years.
Her Platinum Jubilee will be celebrated with four days of public holiday in June.
When Philip retired from public duties in 2017 at the age of 95 – the age of the Queen today – Sandringham was the place he called home.
The monarch usually spends the festive period at Sandringham, but has remained at Windsor Castle since the autumn as a Covid precaution and held muted Christmas celebrations with Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex. She is pictured with Prince Philip last year
With typical enthusiasm, he set about improving Wood Farm as a retirement bolt-hole.
He oversaw a project to install a new kitchen and spent his days reading, writing and painting.
The Queen, when she wasn't on duty in London, would travel up to stay with Philip at the cottage and it was there that the two could live more like a 'normal' couple than at any other time of her reign.
Dispensing with liveried servants, Philip had insisted that Wood Farm staff – a page, housekeeper, chef and footman – wore ordinary clothes.
The monarch usually spends the festive period at Sandringham, but has remained at Windsor Castle since the autumn as a Covid precaution and held muted Christmas celebrations with Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex
Whether by helicopter or by car, the 140-mile journey from Windsor to Sandringham is one to be endured rather than enjoyed – particularly for a 95-year-old.
So the decision to travel will not have been made lightly and must be taken as a sign that, if she is not robust, she is in reasonable health.
The Queen's jubilee celebrations have been tainted by her son Prince Andrew's controversy surrounding his friendship with late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and a court case being brought against him in the US.
Andrew could lose his round-the-clock police protection as early as next month after he was exiled as a frontline royal.
On visits to Sandringham, the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret would cycle around the estate and join their mother and father overseeing the harvest. (Above, Elizabeth with her father, George VI, at Sandringham in 1943)
Sources say a full review of his security is being carried out by Scotland Yard and the Home Office following last week's decision by the Queen to strip her son of his remaining military and charitable affiliations and stop him using his HRH title.
A close associate of the Duke has now claimed he could have his royal patronages restored if he wins the civil case against him while The Queen is alive - but it would be 'less predictable' if Charles was the monarch.
Andrew is currently facing a court battle in New York as a private citizen after being banned from using the styling 'HRH'.
Judge Lewis Kaplan last month sensationally ruled that the Queen's second son can be tried over claims he sexually assaulted Ms Giuffre when she was 17 — allegations which Andrew has categorically denied.
At Sandringham, there will be plenty of fond memories of 'we four', as the Queen's father used to refer to his happy nuclear family – himself, his wife (the Queen Mother), Elizabeth and her sister Margaret - all pictured, along with Philip
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