Queen Elizabeth unexpectedly appeared at a ceremony marking the completion of the long-awaited London Underground line named after her.
The Queen, dressed in a bright yellow hat and coat and using a cane, unveiled a plaque at Paddington Station on Tuesday. She was joined by Prince Edward and Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
This is the last public exhibition for the 96-year-old monarch, who, despite missing a speech in parliament last week due to mobility problems, has twice visited a horse show in recent days at his residence in Windsor Castle.
“In a happy state, Her Majesty the Queen is present at today’s event to mark the completion of the Elizabeth Line,” said a spokesman for Buckingham Palace.
The £ 18 billion ($ 34 billion) railway project was originally scheduled to open in December 2018, but it was repeatedly postponed due to problems with safety testing and alarm systems, even before the pandemic.
Originally named the Crossrail Line, Elizabeth will connect destinations west of London, including Heathrow Airport and Reading with Shanfield in the east. It will open to visitors on May 24.
The queen was seen in public only a few times after she spent a night in hospital in October due to an unspecified illness, after which doctors told her to rest.
She has since performed duties remotely or in person at her home in Windsor Castle and did not attend the opening of Parliament last week.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/human-interest/queen-unveils-elizabeth-line-tube-plaque-c-6835332
