Queen Camilla will miss tonight's Royal Variety Performance due to persistent post-viral complications from her chest infection.
A representative for Buckingham Palace stated that, following a recent chest infection, Queen Camilla is still experiencing residual post-viral symptoms, as per ABC News. Consequently, physicians have recommended that Her Majesty prioritize adequate rest after a demanding week of engagements.
Queen Camilla has, therefore, resigned from attending tonight's Royal Variety Performance with considerable regret. His Majesty will participate as scheduled.
This week, the Queen resumed her royal duties, participating in the annual diplomatic reception with the King and the Prince of Wales on Tuesday night and attending engagements on Wednesday and Thursday.
However, due to tonight's performance's duration and tardiness, her physicians have recommended that she remain at home to prevent overexertion.
Queen Camilla is expected to stay in London tonight but will proceed to Sandringham for the upcoming week, as previously scheduled, Reuters reported. This week, medical professionals have been meticulously observing her recovery from the severe chest illness and addressing each situation as it arises.
Today, she reportedly feels unwell, and a royal insider informed Daily Express that Camilla is "naturally disappointed to miss the evening's events and extends her sincere apologies to all involved, but firmly believes that 'the show must go on.'" She anticipates returning to total capacity and resuming regular public engagements shortly.
Yesterday, Queen Camilla commended the adolescent essay prize winners, who were described as “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” likening them to the young author of "Mary Poppins" at the Commonwealth essay competition.
She has presided over the Commonwealth's most venerable writing competition for ten years, with this year's theme being "our common wealth." Four adolescents, ages 13 to 16, from Malaysia, Singapore, and Uganda, received awards from the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. The competition garnered a historic total of 34,939 submissions from 54 Commonwealth nations.
Queen Camilla remarked that the efforts of the winners and runners-up evoked a quote from the author of "Mary Poppins:" “A writer is, after all, only half his book. The other half is the reader.”
She stated that Pamela Travers described writing that “by some strange magic, makes the reader part of the story” and remarked, “This is definitely true of our wonderful finalists: thanks to your talents, your readers are taken on amazing journeys with you across the Commonwealth.”
“Now, if Mary Poppins were here, I wonder if she would be telling me to hurry up with a brisk ‘spit spot’ so that we can get on to the prize-giving. I will therefore end by saying that there is just one word to describe you all – but I might need some help from Gyles to get it right. You are utterly supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," Queen Camilla went on.
Internet users exhibited varied responses on social media. “Health must come first, but it’s worrying to see Queen Camilla missing such an important event," one X user stated. “She’s been so active despite her age—wishing her a swift recovery," another netizen added.
Business Times has reached out to Queen Camilla for comments.
