There are fears that Queen Elizabeth may have coronavirus after the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced today that he had tested positive for it.
Buckingham Palace told USA Today that the 93 year-old Queen last met with Johnson in person on March 11. Johnson revealed today on Twitter that he had tested positive for the virus and would be self-isolating
Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus.
I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus.
Together we will beat this. #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/9Te6aFP0Ri
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 27, 2020
“HMQ remains in good health,” the palace said in a statement. “The Queen last saw the PM on the 11th March and is following all the appropriate advice with regards to her welfare. We will not be commenting further.”
The palace would not say whether or not the Queen and her husband Prince Philip, 98, had been tested for coronavirus.
This comes after it was announced that the Queen’s son Prince Charles had also tested positive for coronavirus, and that he had last come in contact with his mother on March 12.
“The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus,” the palace said when announcing his diagnosis, adding that aside from the mild symptoms he “otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual.”
The Queen is currently self-isolating at Windsor Castle with her husband, and she has cancelled all upcoming royal events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Given the advanced ages of the Queen and her husband, they would both be considered high risk for a serious reaction to coronavirus, should they come down with it.
“As Philip and I arrive at Windsor today, we know that many individuals and families across the United Kingdom, and around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty,” she said in a statement upon arriving at Windsor Castle. “Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part.”
Please keep the Queen and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.