The Queen has revealed Covid has made her “tired and exhausted”.
The 95-year-old monarch, who contracted the virus in February, took her shot in a video call with NHS staff and patients last week.
She told them, “It makes you very tired and exhausted, doesn’t it? This terrible pandemic. This is not a nice result.”
When Buckingham Palace announced the Queen had tested positive in Windsor, it said she had “mild cold-like symptoms”.
While she had her weekly audience with the Prime Minister, she did not show up for scheduled video calls.
The Queen speaks to staff at the Royal London Hospital via video link
Staff and patients spoke to the Queen about the trials and tribulations of dealing with Covid
Sources told the Daily Mail the cancellations were made because she sounded “hoarse” and “chilled” and not because her condition had deteriorated. She also withdrew from the annual Commonwealth Day service, though more likely due to mobility issues.
However, it appears like many who have contracted Covid, the Queen – who has been stung three times and is likely to have had her second booster shot by now – is suffering after-effects including extreme exhaustion.
This will no doubt add to the mounting health problems of the past six months, which has seen her require hospital treatment last fall and been unable to carry out an engagement outside the palace walls for six months.
She was finally spotted in public at the Duke of Edinburgh’s thanksgiving service late last month.
While she has stepped down from Maundy Service in Windsor for the first time ever due to her mobility, handing over responsibilities to the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, she has continued video calls and audiences stoically.
This week the Queen, who will celebrate her 96th birthday at the end of next week, celebrated the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Unit at the Royal London Hospital, of which she is Patron, and spoke to staff and a former patient.
The Queen chatted to NHS staff and patients on a video call, in which she shared her own difficulties while being treated for Covid in February
Wearing a floral dress with a pearl necklace, she said the staff’s work was “amazing”.
Sister Charlie Mort said: “The courage shown throughout the pandemic by both patients and my colleagues has been amazing and the kindness shown to us has been inspiring. I think we will all be connected forever because of that.”
“It’s amazing, isn’t it, what can be done when the need arises,” the Queen said.
Imam Faruq Siddiqi, hospital chaplain, said families “felt a sense of hope” on learning he was visiting loved ones. ‘
Although I didn’t have any miracles, I hope that through my presence and prayers I was able to bring them some kind of comfort,” he said.
The Queen held an audience with the incoming and outgoing Secretaries of the Defense Service at Windsor Castle on 16 February
For the first time in her reign, the 95-year-old monarch will instead be represented by Prince Charles at the Maundy Service, which is due to take place on Thursday April 14.
The Queen replied: “It was obviously a very scary experience having Covid very badly, wasn’t it?”
Mr. Siddiqi said, “I think what made it worse was being alone.” ‘Exactly. So you were alone too,’ remarked the Queen.
Mireia Lopez Rey Ferrer, older sister, said the ICU was “unrecognizable” with so many patients.
“As nurses, we made sure they weren’t alone,” she said.
“We held their hands, wiped away their tears and offered comfort. At times it felt like we were running a marathon without a finish line.”
“It must have been a terrible time for you all,” said the Queen. ‘Not seeing their own families and also working so very hard… That [was] The unusual thing wasn’t that you couldn’t see your relatives and you were isolated.’
Asef Hussain, a former patient, explained how he and his family contracted Covid in December 2020. His father and brother were also being treated in the unit for Covid before their deaths.
Elizabeth II with Rear Admiral James Macleod and Major General Eldon Millar (right) as she meets the incoming and outgoing Secretaries of the Defense Service at Windsor Castle
There were also fears the Queen would miss Prince Philip’s memorial service at the end of March, before a “military” plan was hatched to ensure she could arrive in comfort. (Pictured: An emotional monarch during Philip’s service)
The Queen was joined by Prince Andrew as she attended the funeral service for the Duke of Edinburgh on March 29
Mr Hussain, along with his wife Shamina, said his brother was admitted first and died that day. He himself was taken to the hospital after shortness of breath and euthanized for seven weeks.
“When I woke up I saw the brilliant work of the nurses, the doctors – the whole team here. They have been fantastic in supporting me and my family.
“Unfortunately, while I was sleeping, my father also died of Covid,” he said.
,Do you feel better now?’ asked the queen. “I’m getting there, I’m recovering, I’m much better,” Mr Hussain said.
Mr Hussain’s wife explained how she prayed for his recovery on Zoom calls with family around the world. “To pray for him, oh wonderful,” said the queen.
She added: “I’m glad you’re feeling better. It makes you very tired and exhausted, doesn’t it, this terrible pandemic? This is not a nice result.”
The monarch also spoke to the team behind the construction of the new unit and burst out laughing when Jeff Barley, project lead, told her he’d raided his ‘black book’ to find people to help him.
The Queen replied, “That’s wonderful, isn’t it? It’s very interesting, isn’t it, when it comes to something very important, how everyone works together and pulls together. Wonderful, isn’t it?’
Mr Barley welcomed the “little bit of Dunkirk spirit” and, smiling, prompted the Queen to say amid laughter: “Thank God it still exists”. The plaque was then unveiled and held up to show the monarch.
The Royal London Hospital has served the people of East London for 280 years. It was bestowed its royal title by the Queen during a visit in 1990 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its opening on the Whitechapel grounds.