Royal expert Ingrid Seward has warned that Queen Camilla needs to be “very careful” following her bout of viral pneumonia, which has left her chest weakened.
Speaking on GB News, Seward explained: “Queen Camilla has always been prone to chest infections – this one turned into viral pneumonia which is not uncommon.”
“It just means her chest is weakened even more. She just has to be very careful. It does take some time to recover,” Seward cautioned.
The royal commentator drew from personal experience, adding: “I’ve had it myself years ago and once you’ve had it, it can come back.”
Queen Camilla suffered from pneumonia
PA
Queen Camilla has confirmed her recent chest infection was a form of pneumonia, as she continues to recover from the illness.
The 77-year-old Queen is suffering from post-viral fatigue, which led her to miss outdoor elements of this week’s Qatari state visit.
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Ingrid Seward spoke on GB News
GB NEWS
While her condition was viral rather than bacterial, and she no longer has pneumonia, she is still experiencing bouts of extreme tiredness.
Instead of attending Tuesday’s outdoor ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade, Camilla arrived at Buckingham Palace’s Grand Entrance to greet the Emir of Qatar and his wife in the warmer surroundings of the Grand Hall.
Doctors have urged the Queen to take more time to recover fully from the illness, which she contracted following a long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa.
The Queen’s ongoing infection has forced her to withdraw from several high-profile events in recent weeks.
Seward said Camilla has to be careful
GB NEWS
She notably missed multiple Remembrance Day commemorations in November, including the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance and the traditional Cenotaph wreath laying ceremony.
Instead of attending these events alongside King Charles, she commemorated Remembrance Day “privately at home”.
The Queen also pulled out of the Royal Variety Performance last week, with Buckingham Palace stating she “continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms”.
Royal sources have indicated there has been no alteration in her diagnosis or treatment, but recovery has been challenging with a back-to-back diary programme.
Seward emphasised the importance of temperature control in Camilla’s recovery, noting: “This is why she hasn’t gone out into the cold. If she can just stay in one temperature there is a better chance of recovery.”
The Queen’s medical team has advised her to take each day as it comes.
A royal source revealed: “Some days the Queen is on really good form. It’s just one of those things.”
While no major changes are expected to her diary for the rest of the week, there must be “a degree of flex in the Queen’s diary at the moment” due to her ongoing recovery.