Royal fans were happy to see that Queen Elizabeth II has been able to defy doctors and return to her beloved horse riding.
The sovereign had actually abstained from her favorite activity for the last nine months due to mobility issues that has seen her cancel important state occasions. So it was particularly heartening to see that not only is she out and about, she's also enjoying herself.
Elizabeth has continually surprised and inspired people with her dedication and attitude to her work. But many people believed that given her more fragile health, the nonagenarian wouldn't be able to mount her horse again. As usual, however, she showed incredible strength and determination that belies a woman of her great years.
In fact, a source from Windsor Castle reported to The Sun that after nine months, "the Queen has enjoyed being on her horse again. She had been able to whizz around the castle’s Quadrangle in her golf buggy to walk her corgis Riding again is a wonderful sign after those worries about her health. To do so at 96 is pretty remarkable."
While there is a lesson here that we should never write people off, there's also a good reminder of how important it is to have a passion that gets us out of bed each day and that makes us feel alive. For Elizabeth II, that would surely be her love of her four-legged friends; a love that first started at the tender age of three when she was given her first pony.
