FEARS FOR ELIZABETH, 95, IN COVID SCARE
BUCKINGHAM Palace last night refused to say whether the Queen had tested positive or negative for Covid, sparking fears for her health.
But aides moved to reassure the nation by insisting the 95-year-old monarch was showing no signs of illness.
The Queen had met Prince Charles at her Windsor Castle home just two days before he tested positive for Covid.
It is understood Palace doctors will now test her regularly. She has been triple-jabbed so will not need to isolate unless she tests positive.
Aides last night said they would not comment on her personal health, but a source said “obviously the situation will be closely monitored”.
Another revealed she was “not experiencing any symptoms” but her contact with Charles was “recently enough to be relevant”.
The 73-year-old Prince is self-isolating at home. He was found to be positive after a routine test yesterday and had to pull out of a joint engagement in Winchester, Hants, with wife Camilla.
Charles went to see his mother on Tuesday after awarding OBES to chefs Fergus Henderson, who has Parkinson’s disease, and his wife Margot. He also handed an MBE to Dr Nisreen Alwan, known for campaigning for more awareness around long Covid.
On Wednesday he and Camilla attended a reception for the British
Asian Trust at the British Museum in London, with 350 guests. They included Chancellor Rishi Sunak, wife Akshata Murthy and Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Aides confirmed Charles was “not experiencing strong symptoms”, but the Duchess of Cornwall revealed he was finding the situation “a bit tiresome”.
It is the second time the heir to the throne has contracted the virus.
Charles first caught Covid in March 2020 when he had mild symptoms and lost his sense of smell and taste.
He can be released from his isolation if he tests negative on day five and day six and does not have a temperature.
The triple-vaccinated Prince was said to be “deeply disappointed” to have to pull out of his engagements.
Camilla yesterday visited the Thames Valley Partnership in Aylesbury, Bucks.
Speaking to high sheriff for Berkshire Willie Hartley Russell, she said she was lucky not to be positive herself.
And she added: I’ve taken it [a Covid test] so many times.”
Mr Hartley Russell told her: “It gets a bit pointless, doesn’t it?”
He said after the chat: “She said, ‘Yes, unfortunately he had tested positive again. I said he must be building up lots
of antibodies. She said something like he’s finding it a bit tiresome to have got it again, but she said it in a light-hearted way.” Earlier in the day Camilla visited
She said something like he’s finding it a bit tiresome to have it again
Queen’s regular virus tests after Charles contact
the Nourish Hub community food centre in White City, West London.
She spoke for the first time about her delight at the Queen’s statement on Saturday that it was her “sincere wish” the Duchess of Cornwall be made Queen Consort when Charles is crowned.
Camilla said she was “very, very honoured” and “very touched”.
The Queen is understood to be “feeling much better” recently and has regained her health after a torrid few months of illness.
She had to spend the night at a hospital in October where she received treatment for an unexplained condition. The royal had just completed a relentless schedule of 19 engagements in as many days and doctors ordered her to rest. She then missed the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Central London in November after spraining her back.
Throughout the pandemic she has largely been shielding at Windsor
Castle with a team of servants who looked after her and her late husband Prince Philip.
The Queen was seen out and about on public duties on Saturday, the eve of her record-breaking Platinum Jubilee. She met charity workers at Sandringham House on her Norfolk country estate.
It was her first major public appearance in more than three months. She has recently been enjoying her freedom after making a trip to Sandringham to mark the anniversary of her father’s death and day of her accession to the throne on February 6.