The lesser known royal to replace Queen Camilla while she recovers from illness
Queen Camila has had to “withdraw from her engagements for this week” as she recovers from a chest infection, with a lesser-known Royal Family member stepping in to replace her for an event on Thursday.
A Palace spokesman said: “Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest.
“With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal.
“She apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”
On the Queen’s behalf, the Duchess of Gloucester will step in to attend the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on October 7.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, as senior working members of the Royal Family, regularly appear for major royal events, but their children and grandchildren are not working members of the Firm.
The couple are among the more low-key members of the Firm, but play significant roles. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 80, is a paternal first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, his Danish-born wife, Birgitte van Deurs, 78, became the Duchess of Gloucester upon their marriage in July 1972.
According to OK!, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin carried out as many engagements as Prince William last year, with 172, and surpassed the future king the previous year with 178.
Queen Camilla, 77, also apologised “to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed” ahead of Thursday’s engagement.
Camilla, who is believed to be resting at home, has also pulled out of a Buckingham Palace reception for Olympic and Paralympic athletes hosted by the King the same evening.
No further details regarding her illness or treatment have been released but she is understood to be under doctors’ supervision.
Charles and Camilla spent around two weeks out of the UK for their nine-day official tour in Australia and Samoa. They stopped off in India for a luxury spa break on their return flight from Samoa, with the King following advice to take periods of rest to prioritise his cancer recovery.
The reigning monarch, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February, paused his treatment to undertake his historic first official trip to Australia as the country’s monarch in October.
Before returning to the UK, both the King and Queen were reported to have spent three days at the £3,000-a-week holistic Soukya resort in Bangalore, known for its Ayurvedic treatments.
