Queen Camilla will partially miss the upcoming Qatari state visit due to a persistent viral chest infection, according to Buckingham Palace sources. The 77-year-old Queen has been advised by doctors to scale back her participation in the state visit’s events.
Specifically, Camilla will not attend the official arrival of the Emir of Qatar at London’s Horse Guards Parade on Tuesday morning. King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales will instead welcome the Qatari leader during the traditional formal greeting. This will also mark Catherine’s first state visit participation since her cancer diagnosis in March, representing her gradual return to public duties.
While the Queen will miss the ceremonial welcome and carriage ride, she is expected to attend a lunch at Buckingham Palace and hopes to view an exhibition in the Picture Gallery. She is also planning to attend the state banquet on Tuesday evening. The Queen is anticipated to be present for the farewell to the emir on Wednesday.
Palace sources explain that her initial diagnosis from November remains unchanged, and she requires time to rest and recover. The nature of state visit engagements, which typically involve extended periods standing outside and greeting people, could be particularly challenging for her recovery.
With temperatures expected around 7°C in London, royal doctors were likely cautious about exposing the Queen to prolonged cold conditions. The chest infection originated during her trip to Australia and Samoa, which included a stopover in India.
In early November, Buckingham Palace initially announced that the Queen was unwell with a chest infection and needed a short period of rest. She subsequently missed several scheduled engagements, including Remembrance Sunday. The Palace indicated she would gradually return to public duties with modified schedules.
She had previously made a few public appearances, including receiving an honorary doctorate of literature from Princess Anne at the University of London. However, she did not attend the Royal Variety Performance with King Charles on November 22nd due to “lingering post-viral” symptoms.
The scaled-back participation reflects the Queen’s ongoing recovery and her medical team’s recommendations to prioritize her health. While she remains committed to her royal duties, the focus is on ensuring her complete recuperation from the viral chest infection.
The Qatari state visit continues to be an important diplomatic event, with other senior royals stepping in to support the Queen’s usual responsibilities during her recovery period.
