Perfect weather for a royal ride: The Queen, 89, dons jodhpurs for a hack on her beloved Fell pony through the autumn mist - and she STILL shuns a hard hat

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The Queen may be just a year away from celebrating her 90th but that doesn't stop her enjoying a ride on her favourite Fell ponies - without wearing a hard hat.

Her Majesty, 89, was seen out on a hack riding her favourite pony Carltonlima Emma, riding along the river bank in Windsor with a groom.

And the royal, who is uniformly seen in public in skirts and dresses, donned a pair of jodhpurs for the outing - although she wore her signature silk scarf tied under the chin rather than a helmet.

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The Queen, 89, rode pictured riding by the River Thames today in Windsor, Berkshire

Her Majesty has reportedly never worn a helmet because of her hair and wore a silk scarf instead

Her seat and posture was as impeccable as ever as she held the reins lightly along with a crop in her right hand.

Although the groom riding with her was helmeted, the Queen has joked in the past that she doesn't wear protective headgear because it would crush her hair.  

Speaking in an interview last year, her racing trainer Ian Balding recalled the moment he asked why the monarch never wears a riding hat.

The Queen is said to have replied: 'I never have and you don’t have to have your hair done like I do.'

She was not put off either by the widespread fog across the country which has been so severe, it caused problems with planes landing. 

She was accompanied by a groom on her trip while riding her faithful black Fell pony, Carltonlima Emma

Britain has seen widespread fog with planes landing in it at Heathrow, left, and a dogwalker in Peckham park, right, but it didn't bother the Queen who went riding regardless

The Queen finished her riding outfit with some pale jodphurs and dark-brown riding boots

The Queen is an enthusiastic equestrienne and, according to sources, is a familiar sight at her Windsor stables

Her Majesty is famous for her love of horses and first found herself in the saddle at the age of four after being presented with a Shetland pony, named Peggy, aged four. 

Since then, the royal stables have been home to a succession of steeds, among them Betsy, a black farm-bred horse who was her mount of choice in the 1950s, and Surprise, a grey gelding whom the Queen galloped down the course with at Ascot in 1961.

The Queen is an enthusiastic equestrienne and, according to sources, is a familiar sight at her Windsor stables.