'I am worried about her': Concern over troubling detail in photo of the Queen

A new photo of Queen Elizabeth II has left royal fans concerned over her health, in the monarch's first in-person engagement since she suffered an injury to her back.

Her Majesty held an audience at Windsor Castle for General Sir Nick Carter upon the relinquishment of his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff.

The 95-year-old wore a darling autumnal dress to greet Sir Carter, however a photo of the pair sparked worry online after some pointed out a troubling detail.

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"Lovely to see HM up and about. But are her hands OK. They look very cold," one worried royal watcher wrote.

"The skin colour on both her hands looks identical purple," one said, while another simply wrote: "She doesn't look too well."

Other commenters expressed fear over the monarch's size, mentioning she appeared to have lost weight during her absence.

"Lovely to see the Queen but I am quite worried about her, she has lost so much weight," one said.

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Another agreed: "She looks lovely but she has lost some weight."

Despite the concerns, most royal fans were delighted to see Her Majesty back performing royal duties after spraining her back.

The Queen held a face-to-face audience with Sir Nick Carter in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, with the pair joined by one of the royal corgis.

The engagement comes three days after the monarch missed the national Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph after injuring her back.

Her Majesty also bowed out of attending COP26 in Glasgow after doctors advised she rest for at least two weeks.

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More recently, Queen Elizabeth sent a recorded message from Windsor Castle on the opening session of the 11th General Synod of the Church of England.

Referencing her beloved husband — the late Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April — in her speech, the Queen said: "It is hard to believe that it is over 50 years since Prince Philip and I attended the very first meeting of the General Synod."

"None of us can slow the passage of time; and while we often focus on all that has changed in the intervening years, much remains unchanged, including the Gospel of Christ and his teachings."

Her comments follow not only recent health troubles but after noting in her COP26 video message to world leaders that "none of us will live forever".