Queen Elizabeth II Drives A Jaguar Back From Church Service Amid Health Rumors, Prince Philips Retirement

Queen Elizabeth II, who was surrounded by rumors of a bad health last week, was photographed Sunday driving a Jaguar on her way back from church services in Windsor Park. The photos, published by Daily Mail, show the 91-year-old monarch behind the wheels, accompanied by her security guard in the passenger seat.

The queen was wearing a blue suit and matching hat as she exited the Royal Chapel of All Saints. The British monarch is the only person in the U.K. who is permitted to drive without a license. This is not the first time the queen has been seen driving a vehicle. She has been driving since her time in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II. She usually prefers driving Jaguar X-Type Sportwagon and her Land Rover SUV, according to the Daily Mail, and has frequently spotted driving her Range Rover around the lanes of her Sandringham estate.

Last week, rumors about the queen's bad health surfaced after the Buckingham Palace called for an emergency meeting of its staff. Some reports also claimed that the queen's husband, Prince Philip, had died. However, rumors were quashed after the palace said that the queen and Prince Philip are in good health and that the Duke of Edinburgh will be stepping down from his royal duties this autumn.

Prince Philip, who turns 96 in June, will continue to attend previously scheduled engagements till August but won’t take up any new invitations, the palace said in a statement last Thursday.

In December last year, Prince Philip and the queen, were both facing health issues due to which, the monarch had to skip annual holiday services. While Prince Philip's death would not affect the line of succession to the British throne, if Queen Elizabeth II dies, the crown will pass on to Prince Charles.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, who will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary November, have four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, is first in line to the British throne followed by Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge. Prince William and Kate Middleton's son and daughter, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are the third and fourth in line to the British throne.

Prince Philip and the queen have both been conducting royal duties despite facing health issues in the past. Prince Philip has accompanied the queen to ceremonies like the State Opening of Parliament in various countries, state dinners, and tours abroad.

Prince Philip has been a patron of over 780 organizations, particularly focused on education, sport, industry, and environment. It is still unclear how the patrons will be divided and among whom. Earlier this year, the queen also gave up several of her patrons that were passed on to Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry.

Since the queen's health issues last year, the Duchess of Cambridge has been taking up major royal duties and also relocated to Kensington from their Norfolk country home, Anmer Hall, along with her husband and two children.