Queen Elizabethis giving her voice a rest amid her recovery from COVID-19.
After it was announced Sunday that the monarch, 95, hadtested positive for COVID-19, shecanceled virtual meetings on TuesdayandThursday. According to sources who spoke with theDaily Mail, the Queen postponed her engagements due to her voice sounding a “little croaky.”
While the Queen “understandably still sounds full of cold,” the source said that she was “on the mend.”
“Family are confident she will make a full recovery,” one insider told the outlet.
Buckingham Palace announced Sunday that the Queen was “experiencing mild cold-like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week” — such as going through her daily red box and signing off on official papers.
Queen Elizabeth.Joe Giddens/POOL/AFP via Getty
Despite canceling meetings, the Queen felt well enough on Wednesday tohold an audience with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnsonover the phone from Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The Queen traditionally holds an audience with the prime minister every week — with Johnson being the14th prime ministerduring the Queen’s 70-year reign.
While the Queen continues to isolate, it has come to light thatseveral Royal Household members based at Windsor Castlehave also tested positive for coronavirus, PEOPLE understands.
Queen Elizabeth.Steve Parsons-WPA Pool/Getty
The monarch’s diagnosis comes after her son,Prince Charles, and his wife,Camilla, Duchess of Cornwallalsotested positive for coronavirus. The Queen last met with Charles, 73, on Feb. 8, two days before he received his diagnosis.
The Queen went maskless for anin-person meeting at Windsor Castle on Feb. 16with outgoing Defence Services Secretary Rear Admiral James Macleod and Major General Eldon Millar, who is taking over the position. During the visit, sheused a cane and quipped: “Well, as you can see, I can’t move.”
The Queen is reportedly fully vaccinated and has been living at Windsor Castle since the start of the pandemic. Anyone who enters the castle to see the Queen is expected to take a COVID test.
Queen Elizabeth carrying her bag and her walking stick.Joe Giddens/POOL/AFP via Getty
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In addition to health issues (from limited mobility to her recentCOVID-19 diagnosis), the monarch has faced family scandals in recent months, includingPrince Andrew’ssettlementwith his sexual assault accuser and aninvestigationintoPrince Charles' charity following cash-for-honors allegation.
“It’s a drip-feed of negativity for the monarchy,” says a palace insider inthis week’s cover story. “I’ve not known such a tumultuous time as this.”
A royal insider adds: “It just feels to be one thing after another for the Queen. It’s going to take a toll.”
source: people.com
