Queen shows off her sense of humour despite royal tension

Despite ongoing tensions within the royal family, Queen Elizabeth is chipper as ever and was cracking jokes during a solo outing.

Her Majesty stepped out in London on Wednesday evening to present an award to Sir David Attenborough at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, where she signed the visitor's book before she left.

Standing with Chatham House director Dr. Robin Niblett, she asked him for the date before she signed.

He replied that it was 20 November, not realising the Queen was making a sly joke, as 20 November is her and Prince Phillip's wedding anniversary.

The couple married in 1947, making this their 72^nd year as a married couple, and Her Majesty joked to Dr Niblett, "Well, of course I know what the date is!"

She then signed her name and quipped, "Now, well, that proves I came here," before taking her leave.

Her Majesty was in a surprisingly positive mood, despite the current turmoil in the royal family and backlash against her son, Prince Andrew.

Just hours before she was cracking jokes, the monarch's second son had announced he was "stepping back" from royal duties following his disastrous BBC interview about his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

There have since been reports that the Queen, who Andrew said in a statement "gave her permission" for him to step back, but she may have played a bigger role in his decision.

The Daily Telegraph UK reported the Queen summoned Andrew to Buckingham Palace and "effectively sacked her second-born son" from royal duties.

Meanwhile there have been claims Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are feeling more isolated from the royal family than ever, following the release of their documentary last month.

But the Queen seems unaffected by the recent turmoil, and if it is weighing on her, the monarch certainly hasn't let it show.