Camilla pulls out of royal duties after picking up chest infection on visit to Australia, Samoa
Camilla has been suffering with a chest infection for several weeks since returning from Australia and Samoa.
The Queen has pulled out of the ceremonial welcome for the Emir of Qatar and his wife today.
Camilla has been suffering with a chest infection for several weeks since returning from Australia and Samoa. Doctors have advised that she does not attend the carriage procession at Horse Guards Parade. She will join the King to host lunch for the guests and will join the state banquet but will retire briefly during the receiving line.
There is not understood to be any change to the Queen’s diagnosis, however her symptoms have lingered as she overcomes post-viral fatigue.
Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sheikha Jawaher arrived at Stansted on Monday on a Qatar Airways flight, marking the start of a three-day state visit to Britain.
They will meet the Prince and Princess of Wales as Kate returns to public duties to join some of the ceremonial elements of the visit. William and Kate will then travel with them to Horse Guards Parade where the King will join them in a carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
Kate will take part in a lunch and a special exhibition in the palace picture gallery of artefacts related to Qatar held by the Royal Collection Trust and the Turquoise Mountain Foundation.
In the evening, the Qatari guests will attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
The King, Queen, Prince of Wales and other members of the royal family will be there, although Kensington Palace confirmed that the Princess of Wales would not be in attendance.
Kate is continuing her gradual return to public life after announcing the end of her chemotherapy treatment in September. The princess was at the Cenotaph for the Remembrance Sunday service and attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall the previous evening.
This state visit will be doubly significant, as it will be the last to take place at Buckingham Palace until 2027. While refurbishment work continues in the palace state rooms, state visits will next year be held at Windsor Castle. As well its importance for the royal family, this is the first state visit to the UK since Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister.
The Times
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