The Queen has said that having Covid-19 left her feeling ‘tired and exhausted’, during a call to NHS staff and patients.
Her majesty tested positive for the virus in February, with a statement from the palace saying she had ‘mild cold-like symptoms’ and she was forced to miss several appointments.
The Queen took part in a video call with staff and workers from the Queen Elizabeth Unit at The Royal London Hospital as well as Asef Hussain, a former patient, who lost his brother and dad to the virus.
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The monarch asked Asef if he was ‘better now’, to which he replied saying he was ‘much better’.
She responded: “I’m glad that you’re getting better. It does leave one very tired and exhausted, doesn’t it? This horrible pandemic. It’s not a nice result.”
The Queen, who turns 96 next week, praised workers at the hospital for their dedication and teamwork.
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Nurse Charlie Mort said: “The amount of bravery that both the patients and my colleagues showed throughout the entire pandemic was amazing and the amount of kindness we were shown was inspiring. I think we will all be bonded together because of it, forever.”
To which the Queen replied: “It’s amazing, isn’t it, what can be done when needs be.”
She later said: “It must have been a terrible time for all of you.
“Not seeing your own families and also working so very hard... That [was] the unusual part of it wasn’t it, not being able to meet your relatives and being isolated.”
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When the team hailed the 'Dunkirk spirit' that inspired them, the Queen smiled and replied: “Thank goodness it still exists.”
The Queen is now thought to be in good health, aside from some mobility issues, and is gearing up for her platinum jubilee celebrations later this year.
The four-day long celebration - which is scheduled to take place between 2 and 5 June 2022 - will be 'largest' pageant ever in the UK, according to organisers.
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Nicholas Coleridge, a co-chair of the pageant and chairman of the Victoria & Albert Museum, said: "It's going to be the largest that's ever put on, larger we think even than that that was put on for Queen Victoria.
"It's not going to be London-centric. We even have a giant map, making sure that we have people from every part of our country and indeed every part of the Commonwealth.
"We're going to have people from all 54 Commonwealth countries who are going to be taking part in this astounding parade."
Claire Reid