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Queen Camilla has shared an update about her health, and a doctor has issued an alert about her condition.
The Queen, 77, had to forgo several recent royal engagements as she was recovering from a chest infection. During the state visit of the Emir of Qatar and his wife, she informed those present the illness was a form of pneumonia.
As she continues to recover from “lingering post-viral fatigue,” Camilla will not take part in the outdoor portions of the Qatari state visit on doctors’ advice. A doctor has now shared some pointers about how pneumonia differs from other seasonal illnesses.
Taking to TikTok, Dr Mike Muellner said: “A cold or an upper respiratory tract infection is an infection that’s confined to the upper airway. This is the nose, the sinuses, the oropharynx, the larynx.
“Contrast this with pneumonia, which implies inflammation of the lungs. Differentiating the two is important because pneumonia is often caused by bacteria and if so, requires antibiotics,” he said, adding that pneumonia can, however, be caused by viruses or fungal infections as well.
“Whereas a cold or upper respiratory tract infection is more often caused by viruses and doesn’t need antibiotics.”
It is understood Camilla’s condition was viral, not bacterial, and she no longer has pneumonia. The news comes after the Palace confirmed the Queen would miss the ceremonial welcome during the Qatari state visit.
Doctors have urged Camilla to take time to rest from the lingering effects of the illness, which she contracted a month ago following an official visit to Australia and Samoa. The news was shared by the royal editor of The Sunday Times, Roya Nikkah, on X (formerly Twitter).
Her announcement read: “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.”
As a result, Her Majesty missed out on numerous events at the start of November including Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 9 as well as the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph on November 10.
A spokesperson for the Palace said in the wake of the news: “Following doctors’ guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend’s Remembrance events.
“While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.”
