Queen pulls out of engagements after falling ill with chest infection

The Queen is unwell with a chest infection and has withdrawn from her engagements this week, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Camilla, 77, who has not long returned from a busy official overseas tour to Australia and Samoa and a spa break in India, is understood to be resting at her Wiltshire home, Ray Mill.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wished Camilla a “speedy recovery” on behalf of the whole country, in a get well message on social media.

It is understood to be a seasonal illness, which could have been picked up during Camilla’s long-haul travels, but it is not Covid.

The Queen is said to be sad and disappointed to miss the opening of the annual Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday – an event she particularly loves, especially due to her late father’s military connections.

The Queen Consort, Patron of the Poppy Factory, during a visit to the Field of Remembrance, at Westminster Abbey in 2022
The Queen Consort, patron of The Poppy Factory, during a visit to the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in 2022 (Henry Nicholls/PA)

“With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal.

“She apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”

The King and Queen at the end of their royal tour
The King and Queen at the end of their tour of Australia and Samoa (Chris Jackson/PA)

Camilla has also pulled out of attending the Buckingham Palace reception for Olympic and Paralympic athletes hosted by the King the same evening.

No further details regarding her illness or treatment have been released, but she is understood to be being cared for under doctors’ supervision.

The King and Queen visiting the Sydney Opera House last month
The King and Queen visiting Sydney Opera House last month (Victoria Jones/PA)

He is expected to remain in London this week while he attends to his official duties as head of state.

The 75-year-old monarch welcomed Qatari ambassador Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani; Rajendre Khargi, who is the ambassador from the Republic of Suriname; and the High Commissioner for the Republic of Vanuatu, Georges Maniuri, who presented their credentials in the 1844 room.

Charles and Camilla spent around two weeks out of the UK for their nine-day official tour.

Audience at Buckingham Palace
Qatari ambassador Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani presents his credentials to the King at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

The royal couple were reported to have spent three days at the £3,000-a-week holistic Soukya resort in Bangalore, known for its yoga programmes and Ayurvedic treatments.

The Queen has been focused on her husband’s health in recent months, telling author Lee Child in June that he was “doing fine” but “won’t slow down and won’t do what he’s told”.

Australian senator Lidia Thorpe protests during the ceremonial welcome for the King and Queen in Canberra
Australian senator Lidia Thorpe protests during the ceremonial welcome for the King and Queen in Canberra (Victoria Jones/PA)

The visit hit the headlines when Australian senator Lidia Thorpe berated the King and accused him of “genocide” against the First Nations, after his speech during the monarch and Camilla’s official welcome to Canberra.

Remembrance events the Queen hopes to attend at the weekend include the annual Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening at the Royal Albert Hall, and the national Remembrance service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall on Sunday.

A documentary focusing on Camilla’s work raising awareness of domestic violence is airing on Monday.

The Queen was followed over the course of a year for the ITV1 and ITVX programme Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors, and in it she vows to “keep trying” to end domestic violence, describing it as a “heinous crime”.

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –