Queen Camilla pulls out of engagements immediately as Palace issues health update

Queen Camilla has had to withdraw from her scheduled engagements this week due to a chest infection, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace. The Duchess of Gloucester will be stepping in for Camilla at the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday.

Additionally, she won't be attending a Buckingham Palace reception for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, which King Charles will host later that evening. A high-ranking palace aide revealed that the Queen is currently recuperating at home under medical advice, but is hopeful of recovering in time for the weekend's Remembrance events.

On Saturday, the Royal Family will be present at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, honouring those who have lost their lives in conflict and celebrating the service of the British armed forces. On Sunday, the King will lead tributes at the Cenotaph in London, an event where the Queen and other senior royals including the Prince and Princess of Wales are typically expected to attend.

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No further information about her illness or treatment has been disclosed, but she will continue to be monitored by doctors.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated: "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 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.", reports the Mirror.

Recently, the 77 year-old monarch has been at the forefront of Royal engagements, following the King's hospitalisation for an enlarged prostate in January and subsequent cancer diagnosis. Charles, 75, temporarily stepped back from public-facing Royal duties but returned in April while still undergoing weekly treatment.

Last month, the King and Queen completed a nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa. Upon returning to the UK, they stopped in India for a luxurious spa break, spending three days at the renowned Soukya resort in Bangalore, which offers yoga, wellness programmes, and Ayurvedic treatments.

This €3,500-a-week resort has been a frequent retreat for Charles and Camilla, who appreciate its holistic approach to wellness. Two weeks ago, the Queen also took a brief break there while travelling from London to Sydney.

Last week, it was unveiled that the King and Queen are set to embark on their first major tour of 2025, with Italy being their destination as Charles aims to "makeup for lost time". The Royal pair have Rome in their sights and are hoping to arrange a meeting with the Pope at the Vatican.

They will be journeying on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, representing the UK with an itinerary aimed at strengthening the relationship between the two nations in a post-Brexit era. Following the royals' successful tour of Australia and Samoa, Buckingham Palace previously announced that the King is due to return to a "full programme" next year.

Despite his ongoing battle with cancer, the monarch has been given the all-clear by Royal physicians to start planning for the future, which has provided him with a significant morale boost.

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