Queen Elizabeth II Holds Virtual Audiences Amid Concerns Over Her Health

Queen Elizabeth II made two official engagements on Tuesday, despite concerns about her health after her son and daughter-in-law tested positive for COVID-19.

The 95-year-old monarch held virtual audiences from Windsor Castle, including meetings with the Estonian and Spanish ambassadors, who spoke to her via video links from Buckingham Palace.

During the audiences, Estonian Ambassador Viljar Ljubi presented his credentials and his predecessor's letters to recall to the Queen, placing them on an antique wooden table in front of the flat screen monitor.

He was accompanied by Marja Juntai, who was also received by the monarch.

Spanish Ambassador José Pascal Marco Martínez, who was dressed in diplomatic uniform, also presented his letters of credence at the second audience.

He was accompanied by his wife Geraldine Dufort.

The Queen, wearing a floral dress, appeared to be in high spirits and good health on screen as she spoke to the ambassadors.

She was seated in her Oak Room sitting room at Windsor.

It was the first time the Queen had been seen in public since it was announced that Prince Charles had tested positive for COVID-19 last Thursday, two days after he met his mother at Windsor Castle.

At the time, concerns mounted for the monarch's health, but Buckingham Palace refused to confirm whether the Queen had tested positive or negative, citing medical privacy.

Royal officials would only confirm that Her Majesty was not displaying any symptoms of the virus.

The Queen has been triple vaccinated, receiving her first jab in January 2021, her second in March, and her booster jab in October.

However, the monarch will have taken daily lateral flow tests over the past seven days and will have been closely monitored by her physicians in accordance with current guidelines.

Yesterday, Clarence House announced that Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, was also self-isolating after testing positive for COVID.

The Duchess carried out a string of engagements last Thursday, the day Charles tested positive for a second time.

Both Charles and Camilla have been fully vaccinated against COVID and each has had their booster shot.

The Queen's virtual audiences come as she prepares for her Platinum Jubilee later this year, which will see the nation's June calendar filled with celebrations to mark her 70 years on the throne.

It is expected that the Queen will only undertake light public duties until that time, after suffering a period of ill health late last year.

In the autumn, the Queen cancelled a series of engagements and was under doctors' orders to rest.

She was advised to carry out only modest duties after a night in hospital undergoing preliminary tests.

Despite the concerns over the Queen's health, she appeared to be in good spirits during her virtual audiences.

The Queen has spent most of the pandemic at Windsor, where she was cared for in lockdown, in HMS Bubble, a nickname given to her reduced household of dedicated staff.