By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Queen Elizabeth, 95, has tested positive for Covid-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms but expects to continue light duties this week, Buckingham Palace said on Sunday.
“The queen has today tested positive for Covid-19,” the Palace said. “Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week.”
“She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all appropriate guidelines,” the Palace said.
The announcement on Sunday was made only a few weeks after the Queen reached her platinum jubilee of 70 years on the throne on 6 February.
It came as the prime minister, Boris Johnson, had been speaking about moves to lift Covid-19 restrictions and said: “Now is the moment for everybody to get their confidence back”.
He later tweeted: “I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from Covid-19 and a rapid return to vibrant good health.”
Earlier, wishes for a speedy recovery by the Queen were expressed by ministers and figures including the the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, who tweeted: “On behalf of myself and the whole of @UKLabour, wishing Her Majesty The Queen good health and a speedy recovery. Get well soon, Ma’am.”
The Queen carried out a number of official engagements virtually during the week after concerns that she may have been at risk from contracting the virus.
The Queen is understood to be triple vaccinated but she had been on doctors’ orders to rest since mid October, after cancelling a run of engagements and spending a night in hospital undergoing preliminary tests.
She is believed to have spent time with Charles on Tuesday 8 February, when he hosted an investiture at Windsor Castle. A few days later he tested positive for Covid but made a quick recovery to full health.
The Duchess of Cornwall has also tested positive for Covid, with Clarence House confirming last Monday that the duchess was self-isolating.
The royal household has its own royal physicians and the Queen’s doctors will be on hand to take care of and monitor the head of state, with Prof Sir Huw Thomas, the head of the medical household and physician to the Queen, expected to be in charge.