Queen Camilla, wife of King Charles III of the United Kingdom, has stepped back from her scheduled engagements this week due to a chest infection, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday.
According to the BBC, the 77-year-old Queen is currently resting at home under her doctors’ supervision. A Palace spokesperson said, “Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest. With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week, but she very much hopes to recover in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal.”
Sky News confirmed the update, noting that the Queen “apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”
Queen Camilla’s health setback means she will miss several high-profile events, including the annual Field of Remembrance ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Thursday, where the Duchess of Gloucester, Birgitte, will take her place. She will also be absent from a Buckingham Palace reception for Olympic and Paralympic athletes hosted by King Charles III that same evening.
Queen Camilla and King Charles III recently returned from a royal tour in Australia and Samoa. Earlier this year, King Charles also faced health issues, stepping back from engagements briefly for treatment for an undisclosed condition before resuming his public duties in April.
The Palace remains optimistic that Queen Camilla will recover in time for the upcoming Remembrance events, where she is expected to join senior members of the royal family in honoring the occasion.
Queen Camilla became Queen Consort following the ascension of King Charles III after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022, having been previously known as the Duchess of Cornwall.