In a pale blue dress, her trademark pearls and a sapphire brooch, she smiled and shook hands with the head of state at Windsor Castle.
But Her Majesty’s extended family faces disappointment as she may decide against hosting her traditional Christmas lunch for them.
She is due to welcome up to 40 relatives at Windsor next Tuesday but – like many of her subjects – the Queen is waiting to see if the rising cases of the Omicron variant forces her to make a change in plans.
The threat of an outbreak of the virus in the family and the possibility of the Government further tightening Covid-19 restrictions in the run-up to Christmas have made it difficult for the 95-year-old monarch and her senior advisers to commit to anything.
Risk
Aides are keeping a close eye on developments, particularly after the Scottish government advised people to avoid mixing with more than three households before Christmas.
Similar advice in England would scupper the lunch next week.
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