THE Queen has tested positive for coronavirus, Buckingham Palace has confirmed today.
Her Majesty, 95, is experiencing “mild cold-like symptoms” but expects to carry out “light duties” this week, palace officials say.
The Queen has fallen ill after it was confirmed she had been in direct contact with Prince Charles the week he had the bug.
It comes just a few weeks after the nation’s longest-reigning monarch reached her historic Platinum Jubilee of 70 years on the throne on February 6.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “Buckingham Palace confirm that The Queen has today tested positive for Covid.
“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 the appropriate guidelines.”
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 Professor Sir Huw Thomas, head of the Medical Household and Physician to the Queen, expected to be in charge.
The Queen is understood to be triple vaccinated but she had been on doctors’ order 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 February 8, when he hosted an investiture at her Windsor Castle home. He tested positive for Covid a few days late but has since recovered.
Read our Royal Family live blog for the latest updates
The Duchess of Cornwall has also tested positive for Covid, with Clarence House confirming on February 14 that Camilla was self isolating.
Her Majesty has led by example throughout the pandemic, sitting alone at her husband’s funeral in April 2021 and cancelling a family Christmas party in December because it was “the right thing to do”.
Despite a period of ill-health towards the end of last year, she has appeared to be on sprightly form during her recent engagements.
The Queen was pictured beaming as she met with the incoming and outgoing Defence Service Secretaries at Windsor Castle on February 16.
And the following day, the monarch appeared on a screen via videolink from Windsor Castle during a virtual audience to receive the Ambassador of Jordan Manar Dabbas at Buckingham Palace.
