Queen carries out first public engagement outside royal grounds since start of coronavirus pandemic

Monarch met scientists involved in the UK's response to Covid-19

The Queen has carried out her first public engagement outside of royal grounds since the coronavirus pandemic began.

On Thursday, the 94-year-old monarch was joined by her grandson the Duke of Cambridge at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down near Salisbury.

The royals met with a number of scientists providing vital support in the UK's response to the Covid-19 outbreak and the Queen unveiled a plaque to officially open the Dstl's new £30 million Energetics Analysis Centre, which is used by scientists for counter-terrorism work.

The Queen appeared to be on good form as she quipped while signing the guest book: “Well it proves we've been here, doesn't it?”

For the visit, which was her first external engagement in seven months, the Queen dressed in her trademark block colours – a pink Stewart Parvin coat and floral silk dress with a matching Rachel Trevor Morgan hat.

The monarch accessorised the look with black gloves and her signature black Launer handbag. However, neither she nor Prince William wore a face mask.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that heightened safety arrangements were put in place for the royal engagement.

All 48 people who were due to come into close contact with the royals were tested for Covid-19 by Dstl beforehand, and all came back negative.

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Social distancing was maintained during the visit, including between Prince William and his grandmother, who walked two metres apart as they were greeted by staff.

The Queen also arrived by helicopter separately from the duke, who travelled by car.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: “Specific advice has been sought from the medical household and relevant parties, and all necessary precautions taken, working closely with Dstl.”

The Queen was last at an official public engagement outside of a royal residence when she joined the royal family for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 9.

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

During the pandemic, the Queen has been shielding at Windsor Castle along with the Duke of Edinburgh.

She has only been officially seen in public a handful of times, including for a military parade to mark her birthday celebrations and when she gave a knighthood to Captain Tom Moore at Windsor Castle.

In August, the Queen and Prince Philip travelled to Balmoral in Scotland for their annual summer break before also spending a short time in Norfolk at the end of September.

Earlier this month, the Queen returned to Windsor, while Prince Philip has stayed in Norfolk.

While the palace said she may hold official engagements in the coming months, all large scale events have been cancelled for the rest of 2020.

“In line with current government guidelines, and as a sensible precaution in the current circumstances, there will be no large-scale events held at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle for the rest of the year,” the statement read.

“A variety of possibilities were examined to see if it was possible for Investitures to safely take place in line with the guidelines.”