Featured Image Credit: PA/Alamy
Topics: The Queen, Royal Family
Kimberley Bond
Queen Elizabeth II is up and about again following her recent bout of covid-19, with the royal household sharing a photo of HRH meeting Justin Trudeau.
The Canadian Prime Minister was having an audience with the Queen at Windsor Castle, as he had come over to the UK to discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
In the press shots that were released to the public, the Queen is stood in front of a large bouquet of blue and yellow flowers, which many believed were a nod to the Ukrainian flag.
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ITV’s Royal Editor Chris Ship wrote on Twitter: “The flowers behind the Queen today as she met @JustinTrudeau…just happened to be of a blue and yellow colour…”
Meanwhile, Royal Editor for the Sunday Times, Roya Nikkhah, indicated that the choice of flowers in the background were meant to symbolise her support for Ukrainians.
“Royal sources confirm they are a deliberate sign of Her Majesty’s support and that ‘very little tends to happen by accident,’” she wrote on Twitter.
Elsewhere, Amita Joshi-Welton, of Sky News, pointed towards the Queen’s outfit as she met Trudeau, as she wore a paisley dress with a blue and yellow pattern.
And another royal enthusiast wrote about the significance of a major head of state, who doesn’t typically speak out about world conflicts, making such a stand.
“Not only has the invasion of Ukraine brought Switzerland, Sweden etc out of neutrality but even Queen Elizabeth donated to the Ukrainian disaster fund and wore a blue and yellow dress, with blue and yellow flowers in the background of the photo.,” they wrote.
Trudeau later confirmed that he and the Queen discussed the crisis in Ukraine.
"It’s always wonderful to see Queen Elizabeth II," he wrote on Twitter. "When we met at Windsor Castle, we spoke about a wide range of issues – including global affairs, the situation in Ukraine, and Her Majesty’s lifetime of service to Canada and the Commonwealth."
While the Queen is yet to publicly comment on the ongoing humanitarian crisis, she is reported to have given “a generous donation” to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukrainian appeal to help those in need.
Prince Charles has spoken openly about the war, which has seen Russian forces repeatedly bomb a number of major Ukrainian cities.
After visiting a Ukrainian Catholic school in London with wife Camilla, the heir to the throne said the people of Ukraine had exhibited “extraordinary bravery and fortitude” throughout the conflict.
Tyla has contacted reps of the Royal Household for comment.