The Queen wraps up warm to head out on a shoot on Sandringham estate with friends - including F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart - as she makes the most of final weeks of her winter break
- The Queen headed out on a hunt with a group of local friends on Friday
- Drove friends in a Range Rover though it was unclear if she wore a seat belt
- The Queen is now in the final weeks of her winter break in Norfolk
The Queen wrapped up warm as she headed out on a shoot with some close friends on Friday.
The monarch was on the Sandringham estate, trussed up in a khaki cagoule with her hood up as she followed the action.
Joined by a bevy of local friends, as well as her daughter Princess Anne and her husband Tim Laurence, the 92-year-old led the way, using a walking stick to negotiate the rough terrain.
Prince Philip, who was spotted in London yesterday, did not attend.
Sir Jackie Stewart was also among the shooting party, well known for being a keen marksmen.
The 79-year-old was a prize-winning member of the Scottish clay pigeon shooting team before he became a racing driver and competed in the UK and abroad.
The monarch headed out on the Sandringham estate trussed up in a khaki cagoule wearing her hood up as she took part in the sport
Princess Anne (seen in the background) also joined her mother on the shoot today
It is no surprise to see the former F1 racing driver among the party today having firmly established himself in the royal fold from a young age.
He enlisted Princess Anne to write the foreword for his biography and his wife Helen, who is now battling dementia, is godmother to Zara Tindall, the Queen’s granddaughter.
Her Majesty was also joined by several canine pals, sure to be a welcome addition for the monarch who lost the last of her beloved corgis last year.
The Queen herself did not appear to get to grips with a gun but appeared instead to offer encouragement from the sidelines. Earlier in the day, she enjoyed lunch with the shooting party.
She also took the role as royal chauffeur getting behind the wheel of her Range Rover to transport her guests - though it is unclear whether or not she was wearing a seat belt.
Joined by a bevy of local friends, the 92-year-old lead the way using a walking stick to negotiate the rough terrain
Taking a detour the Queen braved a thorny thicket during a hack across the grounds
Princess Anne and her husband Tim Laurence (seen centre with Jackie Stewart, far right) were among those to join the Queen this afternoon
Her Majesty got behind the wheel of her Range Rover in order to make the short journey from her home to the hunt
She faced criticism for going without a seat belt following the Duke of Edinburgh's crash just over a week ago and it is unclear whether or not she was wearing one today
The Queen herself did not appear to get to grips with a gun but appeared instead to offer encouragement from the sidelines as her friend Sir Jackie Stewart (seen with gun) took a shot
The 79-year-old (seated) was a prize-winning member of the Scottish clay pigeon shooting team before he became a racing driver and competed in the UK and abroad
The hunt appeared to be a successful one with members seen toting pheasants
SIR JACKIE STEWART REVEALS HIS WIFE'S BATTLE WITH DEMENTIA
The racing legend revealed last week how he's transformed his idyllic Swiss home to make life for his wife Helen, who has dementia, safer and more comfortable.
The Scottish racing star, 79, who won 99 Grands Prix during his illustrious driving career has described Lady Stewart's battle with the devastating illness as the 'biggest challenge of my life'.
Sir Jackie Stewart, 79, pictured with his wife Lady Helen, 77, at Wimbledon in 2016. Helen was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia five years ago and Stewart has described her illness as the 'biggest challenge of my life'
Stewart has also invested £2million into academic fellowships in a bid to help scientists find a cure for the cruel disease, which 225,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with every year.
Helen was first diagnosed five years ago after she couldn't remember how a car accident happened in the grounds of the couple's lavish Chiltern Hills estate.
Lady Stewart's short-term memory and mobility are impaired by the condition and day-to-day tasks are a struggle, with the 77-year-old frequently awake throughout the night.
Now based full-time in Geneva, Lady Helen is cared for around the clock by a team of eight neuroscience nurses and the four-storey house the couple share on the banks of Lake Geneva has been kitted out with state-of-the-art sensors to ensure Helen doesn't stumble when she's awake at night.
The racing legend also keeps his wife's social life going, ensuring she dines twice a week with family members.
This comes following the news that the Duke of Edinburgh was not wearing a seat belt during his crash in Norfolk just over a week ago.
Following the incident the Queen faced criticism for making a similar journey without wearing one last Friday.
However, it appears that the royal has remained vigilant since having been spotted wearing a seat belt on Tuesday.
Police have spoken to the Duke after he was pictured driving a new Land Rover alone and without a belt just 48 hours after his crash.
The royal family is well known for its love of shooting with a Boxing Day shoot an annual tradition.
The Queen is now in the final weeks of her time in Norfolk, expected to return to Buckingham Palace in the first week of February
While the Queen is not thought to have taken part in the shoot herself she did enjoy a lunch with those who attended earlier today
In years gone by, the Queen would be joined by royal wives during the festive shoot, following the gunmen and often wringing the necks of injured birds.
But during the last hunt the 92-year-old monarch and her 97-year-old husband turned up in a Range Rover just to watch for a while and eat a lunch.
The shoot today comes a day after the Queen visited the Sandringham branch of the Women’s Institute in Norfolk, where Pointless quizmaster Alexander Armstrong was guest speaker.
Her Majesty was also joined by several canine pals, sure to be a welcome addition for the monarch who lost the last of her beloved corgis last year
Her Majesty, who is known to be a superfan of the BBC quiz show, enjoyed tea and cakes with the ladies and took part in a live version of the quiz, which her team won.
The Queen is now in the final weeks of her time in Norfolk, expected to return to Buckingham Palace in the first week of February.
She will mark the 67th anniversary of her accession to the throne on February 6, normally done privately on her Norfolk estate.
The longest-reigning sovereign in British history became queen on February 6 1952 on the death of her father King George VI.
