Queen Elizabeth II positive at Covid-19

Queen Elizabeth II, 95, tested positive for Covid-19 but only has symptoms “light”, comparable to those of a cold, Buckingham Palace announced on Sunday February 20.

→ CONTEXT. Elizabeth II, more than ever in the center of attention after the death of Prince Philip

The sovereign, who has just celebrated the 70th anniversary of her reign, had met her son Prince Charles on February 8, two days before he tested positive. She will lead “light tasks” over the next week, said Buckingham Palace, who wishes to be reassuring about his state of health.

Several public appearances in recent days

Since her interview with her son, the Queen had made several public appearances. In particular, she had received in person, on Wednesday February 16, the Major General Eldon Millar, responsible for liaising between the Queen and the armed forces, and his predecessor Rear Admiral James Macleod, at Windsor Castle, about forty kilometers from London, the sovereign’s main place of residence.

A video of the meeting showed her welcoming the two soldiers standing, smiling, wearing a patterned dress, with a cane in her hands. “As you can see, I can’t move”, she said pointing to her left foot or leg.

→ READ. Elizabeth II: seventy years of reign and no abdication in sight

This appearance of the queen had given a reassuring signal about her state of health, particularly scrutinized since she spent a night in the hospital in the fall for “preliminary” examinations, the nature of which has never since been clarified. Tuesday, February 15, she had received by videoconference the new ambassadors of Estonia and Spain.

Health issues in October

Since his health problems in October, his appearances had become rare, but the palace recently announced a resumption of its public activities: before a ceremony on March 29 at Westminster Abbey in memory of Prince Philip, her late husband l Last year, the Queen is due to attend a diplomatic reception in Windsor on March 2 and a Commonwealth ceremony on March 14.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his support for the sovereign: “I wish Her Majesty the Queen a speedy recovery from Covid and regains her health. »