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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Russell Myers

Queen holds weekly call with PM as she battles on despite Covid infection

The Queen is recovering from her bout of Covid and managed today to hold her weekly audience with the Prime Minister.

The 95-year-old monarch is continuing to experience mild cold-like symptoms after testing positive for coronavirus on Sunday and has been self-isolating at Windsor Castle.

A number of palace staff who work and care for Her Majesty are also understood to have been hit by the virus in the last few days.

Concerns for the nation’s longest reigning monarch have been heightened in recent days, given her age and recent health scares, including an overnight stay in hospital last October to undergo a series of tests and a back sprain the following month.

Buckingham Palace had insisted the Queen, who is triple vaccinated, would this week be continuing light duties at her desk.

The Queen, who is the world's longest reigning monarch, continues to experience cold-like symptoms (VICTORIA JONES/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX)

However, she was forced to cancel two planned engagements due to be held on video link on Tuesday after feeling under the weather.

Her Majesty has been following the Covid guidelines after testing positive, but from tomorrow the sovereign would be freed from her isolation period with the end to the legal duty to self-isolate.

The Queen holds an audience with Boris Johnson most Wednesdays, either in person or by telephone, and has recently been holding one or two diplomatic audiences a week with ambassadors by video-link.

A royal source confirmed the Queen did have an in-person audience planned for today, but as Her Majesty has been diagnosed with Covid that was cancelled on Monday as it would have broken guidelines to have gone ahead.

Her Majesty cancelled two appointments yesterday due to feeling unwell (Getty Images)

Her Majesty has a number of major engagements coming up next month.

She is expected to host the diplomatic reception on March 2, where she would meet hundreds of members of the Diplomatic Corps at Windsor.

The Queen is also due to attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14 and then the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service, also at the Abbey, on March 29.

Until recently the Queen had been on doctors’ orders to rest since mid-October, after cancelling a run of engagements and spending a night in hospital.

The Queen speaks with Boris Johnson most Wednesdays (PA)
Boris Johnson recently dropped all coronavirus restrictions (REUTERS)

She regularly uses a walking stick and has been pictured recently looking frail. She has spoken of her mobility issues, telling two senior military officers during a Windsor Castle audience last week: “Well, as you can see, I can’t move.”

Meanwhile, as royal aides hope the Queen’s covid is in the distance, plans are continuing at pace for celebrating her Platinum Jubilee in style this summer.

Some 5,000 members of the public will be selected to receive a pair of free tickets to a Platinum Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace, the BBC has announced.

The Queen celebrated the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne on February 6 2022. She is the first British monarch to reach the milestone.

Her Majesty is resting and recovering at her home, Windsor Castle (pictured) (REUTERS)

To celebrate the anniversary, a variety of events and initiatives are taking place throughout the year, culminating in a four-day UK bank holiday weekend from June 2-5.

The BBC has revealed that 5,000 people will be selected via a ballot to receive a pair of free tickets to be in the audience at Buckingham Palace for the Jubilee concert on June 4.

From February 24 to March 23 people will be able to apply online for a pair of tickets.

The 10,000 tickets on offer are not being allocated on a first come, first served basis, meaning those who enter the ballot have an equal chance of being selected no matter when they apply during the period the ballot is open.

As part of the celebratory concert, a stage will be erected in front of Buckingham Palace. A variety of musical performances will feature, from global pop and rock stars to opera singers, with a full, live orchestra.

Famous faces from film, TV and the stage will also celebrate some of the most significant cultural moments from the Queen's reign.

In addition to the tickets available in the ballot, invitations will be sent to a number of charitable organisations including ones which support young people, the military and the environment as well as those who worked with communities during the pandemic.

Charlotte Moore, chief content officer at the BBC, said: "The Platinum Party at the Palace is set to be one of the highlights of Her Majesty The Queen's landmark Jubilee festivities weekend and one of the biggest concerts in a generation.

"The BBC is honoured to be bringing every moment of this live event to millions watching and listening at home, and on outdoor screens across the UK and around the world."

The Platinum Party at the Palace will be held on June 4 and will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Radio 2, and supported across the entire BBC network.

Applications for the ticket ballot open at 7am on February 24 and close at 11:59pm on March 23.

Members of the public are invited to apply by visiting - BBC One - The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee - Event and Ticket Information.

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