The Queen is being nurtured back to health by close aides who have loyally stayed by her side since the death of Prince Philip.
Paul Whybrew, the Queen’s favourite courtier – who is known as ‘Tall Paul’ due to his 6ft 4in frame – and her dresser Angela Kelly are said to be a near constant presence by her side.
The Monarch considers Mr Whybrew, at 62, indispensable.
According to Ms Kelly, Mr Whybrew is the only person who can touch the Queen’s jigsaw puzzles. He has been keeping the Queen company while she recovers.
The Queen is being nurtured back to health by watching television with her two closest aides, including Paul Whybrew, 62, known as ‘Tall Paul’ due to his 6ft 4in frame. Pictured: Paul, right, walking beside the Queen during her cameo with James Bond for London 2012 Olympics
An early sign of his loyalty came in 1982 when he wrestled Michael Fagan to the ground after the intruder broke into the Queen’s bedroom at Buckingham Palace.
After calming Fagan down Mr Whybrew (whose title is Page the Backstairs) offered him a bottle of whisky.
During her cameo with Daniel Craig, the courtier was seen walking beside Queen Elizabeth in a sketch to open the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Ms Kelly, the daughter a Liverpool docker, is so close with the Queen that she was granted rare permission in writing a book about her 20-year history at the Palace.
A Palace source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The Queen is very grateful for the loyal support she has received.’
Angela Kelly, her dresser (pictured in 2018), is the second person who keeps her company while she recovers.
It is believed that she was inundated by messages from the public. She is believed to be eating a healthy diet and exercising to keep her joints flexible.
The Queen has given up her evening alcoholic tipple, but she is said to be buoyed by her ‘live-wire’ Corgi puppy, Muick, named after a loch at Balmoral.
The Queen is very careful about her health and follows a strict regimen, starting with Earl Grey every morning at 7.30am.
She eats lunch alone, when she is not on official duty, at 12.30pm.
She has tea at 5pm. It consists of scones, jam, clotted cream and salmon, cucumber, and egg mayonnaise sandwiches. She is also said to love ‘jam pennies’ – sandwiches cut into circles the size of an old English penny.
Dinner is usually a casual affair and includes meat or fish with vegetables. Former royal chef Darren McGrady said: ‘She loves game, things like Gaelic steak.’
The Monarch will be disappointed by doctors’ advice to stop walking with her dogs. Royal biographer Christopher Andersen said: ‘She relied on daily walks and horseback rides… because they were her alone time.’