Queen makes first engagement to mark Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force

The Queen stepped out in bright sunshine today for her first official royal engagement for five months, to mark the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force.

The 94-year-old monarch is at the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial in Runnymede, Surrey, for her first in-person engagement since last October, when she visited the Defence Laboratory at Porton Down alongside her grandson Prince William

The Queen wore a spring-inspired ensemble for the occasion, donning an olive green coat and matching hat, adorned with faux daffodils and orchids.  

Her Majesty was last seen out in public last December, when she welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge back to Windsor after their whistle-stop tour of Britain.

Today’s event comes as her 99-year-old husband Prince Philip recovers at home after undergoing heart surgery at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London earlier this month.  

The CWGC Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede was opened by Her Majesty on October 17, 1953. 

Her Majesty was pictured leaving Windsor this morning, en route to the War Memorial at Runnymede

Her Majesty was last seen out in public last December, when she welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge back to Windsor after their whistle-stop tour of Britain. Pictured, the Queen leaving her home this morning

Her Majesty was last seen out in public last December, when she welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge back to Windsor after their whistle-stop tour of Britain. Pictured, the Queen leaving her home this morning

Last night, the Queen sent box of daffodils on behalf of herself and the Royal Household, to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London. 

The annual gift is sent by the Queen to NHS hospitals as a thank you to staff and to cheer up patients.

The hospital tweeted: ”Reverend Chris van D’Arque and team took delivery of the flowers, which will be appreciated by patients and staff!’ 

Her Majesty was greeted by Claire Horton, Director General, Commonwealth War Grave Commission, and The Honourable George Brandis, High Commissioner for Australia. 

The Queen, who is also Australia’s Head of State, was there to attend a service to mark the milestone 100th anniversary of the service.

Her Majesty’s Equerry Major Tom White, a hero of the Afghanistan conflict where he was involved in a battle with the Taliban in 2009, laid a wreath on her behalf.

Following the service thr Queen viewed panels bearing the names of Australian war dead and a display of fallen airmen and women in the memorial cloister, before meeting serving RAAF personnel.

She also signed a commemorative document before departing.

It was her first public engagement where she interacted with people outside of a royal residence since October, when she joined the Duke of Cambridge for the visit to Porton Down, to meet Scientists at the Defence Science Laboratory. 

She was joined by Prince William at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down near Salisbury to meet scientists who worked in the aftermath of the 2018 Novichok attack, and are supporting the UK’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Her Majesty, who has been in lockdown in Windsor Castle but has been carrying out engagements remotely, did some filming and an audio recording for Commonwealth Day earlier this month.

Last night, the Queen sent box of daffodils on behalf of herself and the Royal Household, to St George's Hospital in Tooting, London. The annual gift is sent by the Queen to NHS hospitals as a thank you to staff and to cheer up patients

Last night, the Queen sent box of daffodils on behalf of herself and the Royal Household, to St George's Hospital in Tooting, London. The annual gift is sent by the Queen to NHS hospitals as a thank you to staff and to cheer up patients

Last night, the Queen sent box of daffodils on behalf of herself and the Royal Household, to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London. The annual gift is sent by the Queen to NHS hospitals as a thank you to staff and to cheer up patients

She stepped outside on an official engagement then the Christmas event at Windsor in December and was present for the laying of the wreath at Westminster Abbey for Remembrance Day in November. 

Today, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) commemorates 100 years of service to Australia. 

More than 350,000 men and women have served in the RAAF over the past 100 years, with over 11,100 losing their lives in service.

The event at Runnymede Air Forces Memorial is the beginning of a number of planned RAAF centenary COVID Safe events and initiatives within the UK, which complement events that will take place Australia wide.

The centenary program theme, ‘Then. Now. Always.’ will honour the sacrifices and service of the last 100 years, demonstrate today’s air and space-power capabilities, and inspire the next generation’s interest in Air Force and aviation. 

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) commemorates the 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women who died during the two World Wars.

It also holds and updates an extensive and accessible records archive. The Commission operates in more than 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries. 

More than 1,300 of those commemorated at Runnymede served with the Royal Australian Air Force.