Queen Camilla Breaks Her Silence on Recent Chest Infection

"Hopefully, I’m on the mend now."

After a short period of rest, Queen Consort Camilla is back to work. The royal has been taking some time to recuperate this past week following a recent chest infection, which saw her missing some major royal events, including Remembrance Day weekend. Although she is not quite back at 100 percent, she is on her feet and also broke her silence on her health.

The 77-year-old attended a reception at Clarence House for The Booker Prize Foundation, where she gave an update on her condition.

"I'm obviously getting much better, bit of sort of coughing going on," she said in a video posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) by Daily Mail royal correspondent Rebecca English. "I really wanted to come," Camilla said of the event while greeting guests.

"I'm on the mend. These things always take a bit of time to get rid of. You think you got rid of it, they just sort of hang on for a bit," she told American author Percival Everett, whose book, James, is shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize. "But hopefully, I’m on the mend now. It's nice to see you again."

An avid reader herself, literacy is a cause Camilla holds close to her heart. She supports a number of literary organizations, including the Booker Prize. The reception comes ahead of the 2024 ceremony, which will be held in London tonight.

While Camilla appeared in good health at the engagement, she isn't ramping back up into her regular schedule. Buckingham Palace confirmed that she will not attend the Gladiator II film premiere alongside her husband, King Charles III, tomorrow. According to People, this decision is intended to help ease the royal back into her public duties.

The palace announced on November 5 that Camilla had fallen ill with a chest infection and would be canceling her plans for the week. The news came a few days after she and Charles had returned from their trip to Australia and Samoa.

Camilla has been resting privately at home with care from doctors, while Charles and Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester, stepped up in her place for events on November 7. Camilla also skipped the Festival of Remembrance and Remembrance Sunday this past weekend, as she did not want to pass on any lingering infection to others or prolong her recovery.