Is Queen Elizabeth II Better? Photos Show British Monarch In Good Health After Illness That Prompted Death Rumors

After months of suffering from a heavy cold that forced Queen Elizabeth II to skip annual royal holiday celebrations, the 90-year-old looked refreshed and in good health when she attended an event Thursday to honor actress Naomie Harris and many others at Buckingham Palace.

The queen had been away from the public eye toward the end of last year amid serious health issues, which also gave rise to rumors about her giving up the throne and also sparked concerns as to who will succeed her. However, the queen's first public appearance of 2017 on Jan. 8 — when she attended the morning church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk — showed her recovering from the illness.

“I was impressed by how youthful she looked,” Harris, who received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) award for her services to drama Thursday, told reporters about the queen. “She looked incredibly young and really healthy – and she has good skin.”

According to reports, the longest-living reigning monarch showed signs of good health as she celebrated her Sapphire Jubilee on Feb. 5, marking 65 years on the throne. Over the last few weeks, the queen stepped out to continue with her royal duties and also attended several public events.

Earlier this week, the queen hosted a reception to celebrate the women who have led government departments at the British Civil Service since 1955. Last week, she also met with several officials from "the U.K., the Commonwealth, and across the world," to maintain close ties as part of her weekly ceremony of holding audiences.

The queen's illness last year also gave rise to rumors of her death after some fake news surfaced online. However, in case the queen dies or abdicates, her son Prince Charles will take the throne. The Prince of Wales is first in line to the British throne, followed by Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, who would be succeeded by his son Prince George.