Although the palace previously stated that Queen Camilla was recovering from the chest infection that caused her to take a break in early November, the 77-year-old monarch shared that the virus is “[hanging] on for a little bit.”
After missing several events due to her illness, the queen consort made an appearance at the Booker Prize ceremony on November 12, but had to leave before the winner was revealed.
Now, she has stepped back from attending the Royal Film Performance of *Gladiator II*, allowing King Charles to walk the red carpet alone.
Following their return from a long trip to Australia and Samoa, the 75-year-old king resumed his cancer treatment, while the queen was forced into bed rest due to a lingering illness that led to her chest infection.
Her illness caused her to withdraw from several events, but the palace had anticipated her return to public duties over the Remembrance Day weekend.
A statement from the palace on November 5 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, but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal…”
However, the queen was absent from the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday, where King Charles laid a wreath on behalf of the nation at the Whitehall memorial.
Prince William, Kate Middleton—who is gradually returning to public duties after her cancer treatment—and other royal family members joined the king to honor fallen soldiers. Meanwhile, the 78-year-old Duchess of Gloucester, Birgitte, stepped in for Camilla at the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on November 7.
A palace aide explained, “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.” The aide also shared that the queen had spent several days resting at home on doctor’s orders.
Later that evening, King Charles hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, an event that was originally planned for Camilla to co-host.
On November 12, Queen Camilla, who has often expressed that “literature has always been my passion,” attended the Booker Prize reception at Clarence House. However, she had to leave the event she was hosting before the winner was announced.
Before her departure, the queen told one of the finalists that she “really wanted” to stay and that she was “obviously getting much better,” though she admitted to still experiencing “a bit of coughing.”
“I think I’m on the mend, but these things always take a bit time to get rid of,” she said. “You think you’ve got rid of it, then they just sort of hang on for a little bit, but hopefully I’m on the mend now.”
On November 13, King Charles and Queen Camilla were set to celebrate the centenary of London’s Film and TV Charity, a foundation that supports cinema workers and their families in need.
However, due to her illness lingering longer than expected, Queen Camilla has withdrawn from attending the much-anticipated premiere of *Gladiator II* at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in central London, leaving King Charles to walk the red carpet solo.