Queen Camilla Is Recovering From Pneumonia, Palace Confirms

Queen Camilla Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the chest infection Queen Camilla has been battling for the past month was actually a form of pneumonia — but she’s now recovering well.

Due to post-viral symptoms, such as fatigue, Camilla, 77, has been forced to pull out of the outdoor elements of a two-day state visit to the UK from the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tanim bin Hamad Al-Thani and his wife Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani.

However, she was happily able to join King Charles and guests for lunch on Tuesday, December 3 at the Palace with the VIPs after the outdoor procession. She arrived at the event smiling and looking elegant but cosy in a navy blue coat.

Camilla told guests at the lunch event that she contracted the illness, previously described as a chest infection, after a long haul trip to Australia and Samoa, but thankfully avoided needing to be hospitalized.

The royal household originally announced that Camilla needed to cancel several engagements on November 5, but said at the time that they were hoping she would be back in action within a few days. But her illness lingered on, and she was unable to attend events marking Remembrance Sunday the following weekend, along with the London premiere of Gladiator II that she had been scheduled to attend. She tentatively returned to some of her official duties on November 12, but has been avoiding spending unnecessary time outside in the damp and chilly British weather.

In happier royal health news, Princess Kate Middleton has been present at the Qatari state visit today (Tuesday, December 3), joining husband Prince William and father in law King Charles for the ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade.

After the welcome event, the trio, along with the emir and his wife, traveled in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace for the private lunch with Camilla and a special exhibition of the Royal Collection Trust. During the two-day visit, the VIPs will also enjoy a state banquet with the royals in the Buckingham Palace ballroom, a trip to the Houses of Parliament and a meeting at 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

When it comes to their health, it has been a very tough year for the Royal Family: as well as Kate’s cancer diagnosis and Camilla suffering from pneumonia, King Charles has also been receiving treatment for cancer.

Later this week, on Friday December 6, Kate is due to host one of her favorite events of the year: the annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.