Queen Camilla Shared a Health Update After Missing Several Royal Events

A source says there is "no cause for alarm."

Queen Camilla has had to cancel a number of royal appearances over the last couple of weeks due to an ongoing chest infection. And while the queen is on the mend and beginning to feel better, some lingering symptoms have been keeping her on the bench during engagements.

A friend of Camilla told the Daily Mail that she skipped this year's Royal Variety Performance "only because she didn’t want to spoil anyone else’s enjoyment with her cough."

The insider added that she is "on good form" but begins to "coughs whenever she starts speaking," which would be difficult to tackle as the host of events. They added that there is "no cause for alarm" amid her cancellations.

"Following a recent chest infection, The Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritize sufficient rest," Buckingham Palace said in a November 22 statement. "With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance."

A source told People that Camilla believes that the "show must go on" and "sends her sincere apologies to all those involved" regarding the events she had to skip. "She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon," the insider added.

This would explain why the queen has made an effort to be present at several appearances that took place at Buckingham Palace, including the Film and TV Charity centenary reception and the 2024 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, where she caught up with former Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell-Horner, a.k.a. Ginger Spice. The two even broke royal protocol by clasping hands during their conversation. Last week, Camilla also joined her sister-in-law Princess Anne at an event at the University of London, where Camilla was presented with an honorary doctorate of literature.

During the ceremony, Camilla attempted to break protocol, though, Princess Anne was having none of it. The queen offered to let Princess Anne, the university's chancellor, walk into the room ahead of her, though Anne "smiled and politely refused, allowing Camilla to enter first,” according to The Daily Express. Because of the order of precedence, the queen's higher rank traditionally means she should be the first to walk into a room. As a stickler for the rules, Princess Anne insisted on Camilla going first.