Queen Elizabeth II Spotted Using Walking Stick for First Time

Queen Elizabeth II has been seen using a walking stick for her "comfort" for the first time.

The 95-year-old monarch leaned on the support during a visit to Westminster Abbey, in London, yesterday for the centenary of the Royal British Legion, which organizes the U.K. poppy appeal, raising money for veterans.

A royal source told Newsweek: "It was for Her Majesty's comfort."

There are no known concerns for the queen's health but her use of the walking stick will serve as a reminder of just how long she has continued to work past the age when most retire.

Elizabeth celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne, next year in 2022.

Her use of the walking stick comes six months after Prince Philip died aged 99 on April 9, when she asked for 14 days of mourning, an extension on the traditional eight initially announced.

The queen has already started to pass some responsibilities on to both her son, Prince Charles, and grandson, Prince William, who both carry out investiture ceremonies when the great and good of British society are knighted.

There were headlines in November 2017 when the queen chose not to bend down to lay a wreath at Britain's national war memorial The Cenotaph, in London, preferring to watch from the balcony.

This year, for the first time, she did not wear the Imperial State Crown during the State Opening of Parliament, having previously suggested it was heavy.

She told the BBC in 2018: "You can't look down to read the speech, you have to take the speech up. Because if you did, your neck would break—it would fall off.

"So there are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise they're quite important things."

The queen has continued to work throughout the coronavirus pandemic and following the death of her husband of 73 years, in keeping with a promise she made her subjects on the day she turned 21.

During a speech in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1947, she said: "I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."

Prince Charles is next in line to the throne but has been caught up in a new wave of controversy over allegations of cash for honors.

The Prince of Wales and the chief executive of his charity, the Prince's Foundation, were reported to police over allegations a Saudi billionaire was offered help securing a knighthood and British citizenship in return for charity donations.

Charles denies any knowledge of any offer and his charity is conducting its own investigation.

Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee is due months before Season Five of The Crown and Prince Harry's memoirs are set to dredge up potentially damaging sagas from royal history.