Buckingham Palace issues Queen health update as doctor shares little-known advice

Buckingham Palace has issued an update on the Queen's health – and a doctor has now shared some information about her condition.

Queen Camilla has pulled out of another important event thanks to 'lingering post-viral symptoms' after recovering from a chest infection. She will not attend the Royal Variety Performance, despite having returned to royal duties earlier this week at the annual Diplomatic Corps reception alongside King Charles and Prince William.

It comes after she missed the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on November 7 and on the Queen's behalf the Buckingham Palace reception for Olympic and Paralympic athletes on the same evening. A spokesperson for the Palace said: "Following a recent chest infection, The Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest.

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"With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned."

Chest infections are common, particularly at this time of year, but now a pulmonary physician has revealed many of us don't actually know what they are. Taking to Reddit, one person asked whether they had a bacterial chest infection or pneumonia, to which the doctor replied that they may be asking the wrong questions.

"'Bacterial chest infection' really isn't a diagnosis – it's more of a description.

"Bacteria can infect your lung themselves (pneumonia) or your airways (bacterial bronchitis). To complicate things there are viral and non-infectious causes of both."

This means a 'chest infection' is more of an umbrella term for a variety of illnesses as it can be caused by many different things. Similarly, Nurse Rob, who regularly shares health advice to TikTok, said: "A chest infection is just what the name sounds like. [...] It could be bacterial, could be viral [...] it's an infection in the chest."

The NHS states that chest infections often follow a cold or flu. They are usually mild and clear up on their own after seven to 10 days, but in some cases, can be severe or life-threatening.

The main signs of a chest infection are a chesty cough, sometimes with green or yellow mucus, wheezing and shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, a high temperature, a headache, aching muscles and tiredness.

The health service also states chest infections will require different treatments depending on the cause. For viral chest infections like viral bronchitis, antibiotics will not help and it will usually clear up on its own in a few weeks. If the chest infection is bacterial – for example, if you have pneumonia – your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

You must complete the whole course of antibiotics once you've started them, even if you feel better before your treatment is finished.