Queen postpones virtual audiences for second time this week after COVID diagnosis
Anti-viral treatments are expected to be made available to the Queen - who is understood to be triple vaccinated - by a team of royal physicians. The 95-year-old monarch has numerous high-profile engagements coming up.
Thursday 24 February 2022 13:31, UK
The Queen has postponed planned virtual audiences for the second time this week after her COVID diagnosis, Buckingham Palace has said.
"The two virtual audiences that had previously been scheduled to take place today will now be rescheduled for a later date," a spokesman said.
"Her Majesty is continuing with light duties. No other engagements are scheduled for this week."
The palace has said the 95-year-old monarch has been experiencing "mild cold-like symptoms".
While her virtual appointments have been postponed for the time being, the Queen did speak to Prime Minister Boris Johnson by telephone for their weekly audience on Wednesday.
There has been concern over the Queen's recent coronavirus diagnosis because of her advanced age and a recent health scare that left her in hospital late last year.
While she has no further events in her diary this week, she does have a run of high-profile engagements coming up.
Read more:
Which other members of the Royal Family have had COVID?
Next Wednesday, she is due to meet hundreds of members of the Diplomatic Corps at Windsor for a reception, and attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on 14 March and then a service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip on 29 March.
Doctors expected anti-viral treatments to be made available to Her Majesty - who is understood to be triple vaccinated - by a team of royal physicians.
The Queen is not the only person in the royal household to get coronavirus. Less than two weeks ago, Prince Charles contracted COVID for a second time and the Duchess of Cornwall tested positive days later.
Sky News also understands that a number of cases have been diagnosed within the Windsor Castle team.
Self-isolation rules in England end on Thursday, with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 no longer having to quarantine.
Until then, those who self-isolate must do so for five days. They can come out of isolation after the five days if they test negative on days five and six.
The Queen, who has avoided catching COVID for the best part of two years, has spent much of the pandemic in the safety of Windsor Castle, where there has been a tightly-controlled and limited rota of staff nicknamed "HMS Bubble".
Celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee of 70 years on the throne - a milestone reached on 6 February - begin in June.