Queen Elizabeth II uses a walking stick to attend the service at Westminster Abbey

(CNN) – Queen Elizabeth II was photographed using a cane, rare for her, at London’s Westminster Abbey on Tuesday while attending a service to mark the centenary of the UK armed forces’ charity, the Poppy Legion. .

A royal source told CNN that the monarch used the cane for her “comfort.”

It is believed to be the first time that he has used a walking aid for comfort at a major public event, British media reported, including CNN affiliate ITN.

The 95-year-old queen was last photographed with a cane in 2003 after surgery to remove torn cartilage from her right knee.

Elizabeth has been Queen of England since February 6, 1952. In September 2015, she beat the longest governing record of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who ruled for 63 years and seven months.

A celebration of his 70 years of service is planned for May 2022, which is scheduled to celebrate one of his greatest passions, his love of horses, with a four-day horse show at Windsor Castle.