Busy in blue: The Queen is back to work and expressing concerns over one important aspect of her job
<p>Queen Elizabeth II is back to work today, after relaxing on a months-long summer holiday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.</p>
<p>In true HRH fashion, her schedule is packed over the next few weeks, but she was full steam ahead and visited one of her patronages at Haig Housing.</p>
<p>Haig Housing is the UK’s largest military housing charity as it provides over 1,500 properties across the country to armed forces veterans at affordable and accessible rates.</p>
<p>For the visit, she decided to wear a matching hat and a blue double-breasted coat. The Queen finished the look with black gloves and a matching black bag.</p>
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<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
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<p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3eva4Lnj8T/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Today Her Majesty The Queen visited @haighousing in Morden to officially open their new development of 70 homes. Haig Housing is the country’s largest military housing charity, with over 1,500 properties across the UK, providing affordable and accessible accommodation to armed forces veterans -some who have been severely wounded - and their families. 🎥The Bowman family welcomed The Queen into their new home. Michael served in the Grenadier Guards for 14 years, and is one of the newest residents in the development. The Queen has been Patron of @haighousing since 1952, and 70 years ago, in 1949, opened a Haig Housing estate in Jersey. (📷 swipe ⬅️⬅️) The Queen also met @royalairforceuk veteran Ken Souter, who served with 73 squadron from 1940 and flew Hurricanes in North Africa. Her Majesty recently sent Ken a birthday card to celebrate his 100th birthday 🎂 After meeting more residents and schoolchildren from the London Borough of Merton, along the Queen Elizabeth Terrace - a block named in her honour, The Queen unveiled a plaque to declare the development officially open. 📷Press Association 🎥TheRoyalFamily</a></p>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/theroyalfamily/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> The Royal Family</a> (@theroyalfamily) on Oct 11, 2019 at 6:54am PDT</p>
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<p>She was greeted by local schoolchildren and Haig Housing staff upon arrival before meeting residents whose new homes in the Centenary Development have been specifically designed to meet their needs.</p>
<p>The Queen has been patron of Haig Housing since 1952. It was also at Haig Housing where she met with 100-year-old World War II vetran Ken Souter, where she was “glad to see” that his special birthday card turned up.</p>
<p>It is tradition that the Queen sends every citizen who turns 100 a hand-signed card, but after they’re sent off in the mailbox, it’s out of her hands.</p>
<p>She added that she's "always worried" about whether or not they'll arrive on time, according to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/RE_DailyMail/status/1182622399419879424?s=20" target="_blank">royal reporter Rebecca English.</a></p>
<p>Souter was thrilled with the visit, saying that the Queen is a “truly amazing lady”.</p>
<p>“It was an honour to meet her on her first day back on public duty,” he said.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">The Queen meets <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalAirForce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoyalAirForce</a> veteran Ken Souter, who joined 73 squadron in 1940 and flew Hurricanes in North Africa.<br /><br />Her Majesty recently sent Ken a birthday card to celebrate his 100th birthday 🎂 <a href="https://t.co/ql0xQSElVj">pic.twitter.com/ql0xQSElVj</a></p>
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1182611056734150658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<p>Next week, the Queen will make several public outings, including the State Opening of Parliament, where she is expected to give the Queens’ Speech.</p>
<p>She will also be attending a service with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey.</p>