Queen Camilla Is Sick With Chest Infection, Will Miss Remembrance Event

Queen Camilla has canceled multiple scheduled appearances this week after falling ill with a chest infection, Buckingham Palace says.

“Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest,” a statement from the palace reads. “With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week, but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal. She apologizes to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”

Queen Camilla, 77, will not attend the annual Field of Remembrance event at Westminster Abbey on Thursday, Nov. 7. The Queen will be represented by Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester at the event.

The Queen will also no longer co-host a Buckingham Palace reception alongside King Charles for medalists for Team Great Britain that competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games, scheduled for Nov. 7. 

While the Queen regrets that last-minute change in plans, she hopes to recover in time to join the royal family for the Remembrance events scheduled for this weekend, the palace says.

For generations, the British royals have honored lives lost in war on Remembrance Sunday, Nov. 10 (the day before Veteran’s Day in the U.S.) by appearing at The Cenotaph war memorial in London.

Though Kate Middleton is not fully back to royal work after announcing on Sept. 9 that she completed chemotherapy treatment, it emerged then that the Princess of Wales hoped to join her family at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday as well.

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In the meantime, Queen Camilla is resting privately at home under the care of her doctors. Later this week, Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester will represent her by appearing at the Field of Remembrance. The tradition will continue for its 96th year, inviting veterans and the public to plant a poppy to honor those who lost their lives in the Armed Forces. 

Queen Camilla is patron of the charity The Poppy Factory, which supports members of the Armed Forces and their families as they seek employment. On Thursday, Birgitte, who is a full-time working royal and married to Queen Elizabeth‘s first cousin Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, will be there in her stead.

Queen Camilla and King Charles, 75, recently returned from a nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa, his first trip to a Commonwealth realm of his royal reign as he continues treatment for cancer.