THE Queen, 95, carried out three engagements in three days before testing positive for Covid.
Her Majesty is suffering minor cold-like symptoms after contracting the virus.
She was pictured beaming brightly as she conducted a series of meetings this week, one of which was in person.
There had been fears for her health after she was in direct contact with Prince Charles two days before he tested positive for coronavirus during a routine lateral flow.
But in spite of the shock diagnosis today, Palace officials say she’s expected to continue on with “light duties” in the days to come.
Officials said in a statement: “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.”
Here’s what the Queen got up to this week.
Meeting with ambassador
Her Majesty appeared over videolink from Windsor, where she is in residence, on Tuesday, February 15.
She wore a floral dress as she received the ambassadors of Estonia and Spain during virtual meetings.
The monarch, seated in her Oak Room sitting room, has spent most of the pandemic at Windsor.
She formed part of “HMS Bubble” – the nickname given to her reduced household of dedicated staff – during the lockdown.
Tuesday was the first time the Queen has been photographed, albeit on a screen, since she reached her historic Platinum Jubilee milestone.
On that date, she endorsed her daughter-in-law Camilla to be known as Queen when Charles becomes King.
Face-to-face audience
On Wednesday, February 16, the Queen met with incoming Defence Services Secretary Major General Eldon Millar, as well as his predecessor Rear Admiral James Macleod, at Windsor Castle.
During the engagement, she used a walking stick and said she “couldn’t move” well – although it’s thought she was feeling a little stiff, rather than being injured or unwell.
During the audience, she was heard saying cheerily: “I’m here!
“I thought you might have just stayed in there for ages. Good morning.”
Asked how she is, the Queen, pointing to her left leg or foot, responded: “Well, as you can see, I can’t move.”
The trio then discussed the monarch’s dorgi Candy, with the military man saying: “I notice you’ve got Candy keeping guard.
“As we came down the corridor, she wasn’t going to let us get anywhere near you.”
Maj General Millar added: “She gave a little growl as we came in.”
The Queen said: “Oh, really? She doesn’t normally growl.”
“She obviously can see through us,” Rear Admiral Mcleod joked.
Videolink chat
The following day, she appeared on a screen via videolink during a virtual audience to receive two further ambassadors.
She met with Manar Dabbas of Jordan and Jukka Siukosaar of Finland from Windsor Castle.
The monarch wore a floral dress with a large brooch and her trademark pearls for the meeting.
Photographs from the audience show her smiling on screen as she chatted to the diplomat.
Next week
The monarch will continue with “light duties” in the coming days, the Palace says.
Her aides will be keeping her schedule light before a series of outings in March.
Officials are keen she will not be rushed and “lessons have been learned” since her punishing 19 jobs in as many days last October, which led to her resting on doctors’ orders.
The Royal Household has its own physicians to care for the Queen in the days to come.
Her doctors will be on hand to take care of and monitor her, with Professor Sir Huw Thomas, head of the Medical Household, expected to be in charge.
Her Majesty is understood to be triple vaccinated.
Brits who develop coronavirus symptoms are asked to notify those they have been in contact with in the previous 48 hours.
The Queen can out of isolation if she tests negative on day five and day six and does not have a temperature.
