Beloved Queen shakes off Prince Andrew scandal and returns to duty declaring ‘I’m here’

THE Queen returned to duty yesterday as her two eldest sons were mired in scandal — and she assured the nation: “I’m here.”

The 95-year-old used a stick but looked cheery in her first face-to-face engagement at Windsor Castle since December.

It came as Charles became embroiled in a Saudi cash-for-honours probe.

Andrew's offer to become an ambassador for sexual abuse victims after his Virginia Giuffre payout was also slammed.

The Queen, who has suffered a series of recent health scares, was in good spirits yesterday as she met military chiefs.

She bid an official farewell to outgoing Defence Services Secretary Rear Admiral James Macleod and welcomed his replacement, Major General Eldon Millar.

Using her walking stick, she told them: “I’m here. As you can see I can’t move.”

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The Queen has had a long layoff after she was forced to rest on ­doctors’ orders in October.

She spent a night in hospital and also later sprained her back.

Her last official face-to-face engagement at Windsor was with the Sultan of Oman on December 15.

Last weekend, she hosted an Accession Day reception at Sandringham.

The Queen is expected to be with her entire family, including Andrew, at a Service of Thanksgiving for her late husband Prince Philip on March 29.