Why aren’t we being told more about Queen Elizabeth II’s health?

Queen Elizabeth II’s health is a big talking point right now, not just because she is elderly, but also because Buckingham Palace has been releasing so little information.

That’s why we thought this week to answer your biggest questions and concerns.

Yes, she is still recovering from Covid-19

Last Sunday, the palace announced that the 95-year-old monarch had tested positive for Covid-19 the same day and was experiencing “mild, cold-like symptoms”. She confirmed that she was receiving “medical care” and a royal source added that there had been an outbreak of the virus among Her Majesty’s staff in Windsor.

It was clear, however, that she was not out of action, as the statement added that she “expects to continue light duties next week in Windsor.”

What are “light duty”?

This is a relatively new term that we are still getting used to, but our feeling is that it basically means dealing with paperwork. Mentioning him reassures us that she is still well enough to work on the state’s most important matters, like passing new laws.

She also found time to send a congratulatory letter to the British Olympic team during the week and offer condolences to the people of Brazil after the devastating floods in Petrópolis (RJ).

But didn’t she have to cancel her meetings?

She canceled the weekly in-person audience with the prime minister on Wednesday (23), but that was because the meeting would have broken Covid regulations at the time, which still required her to self-isolate. Instead, the queen called Boris Johnson.

On Tuesday, she put off an unspecified number of video calls as she continued to experience symptoms. A source told CNN that they would decide on how to go about their upcoming commitments when the date got closer. She also canceled her video calls on Thursday, which are being rescheduled.

Why can’t she make video calls?

It could simply be because she doesn’t want to appear on camera when she’s feeling down, but it also means we haven’t been able to see her all week.

Why is the palace keeping so much secret?

The palace wouldn’t accept saying it’s keeping it a secret. Advisers agree that the public has a right to receive updates on their head of state, but they also decline to make a “comment” on her medical condition. That’s because they believe the family has the same right to patient confidentiality as the rest of us.

Would they tell us if it got serious?

Well the palace didn’t tell us when she was admitted to the hospital last year until this was leaked to the media and even then it didn’t specify what she was admitted for.

Our reading of this incident was that if there was any sort of procedure we would have been informed as this was the general rule of thumb for updates on Prince Philip’s hospital visits.

If her case was really serious and the queen was temporarily incapacitated, we suspect we would know nothing until the family and prime minister are informed and a formal announcement is made as to who will act on her behalf.

Is Covid your only health problem?

No. She also has some kind of mobility problem. In her last personal audience with senior members of the military, she joked with them that she couldn’t move. THE CNN was told it was probably more a feeling of stiffness than an injury or other illness.

It would be more surprising if she didn’t feel bad at times, as she’s approaching her 96th birthday, which is in April. This week must not have been comfortable when she couldn’t move properly and felt like she had a cold. At least she is out of lockdown now, not least because we assume lockdown rules were dropped in England on Thursday.

All of this is a reminder that Elizabeth is human, and cases like this cause the public to worry. The palace is constantly trying to balance between the public’s right to updates on a publicly funded monarch and her desire for privacy.

In reality, the public will always want to know more, but it’s this mystique that keeps us captivated by the royals, which is why we’re looking forward to pictures of them returning to work and keeping the country running again. History teaches us that she will not remain in seclusion for long.

do not miss

Kate impresses crowds in Denmark

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, received the warmest welcome from the Danish royal family in Copenhagen this week as she made her maiden trip abroad with her organization, The Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood. Kate was received in Denmark by Queen Margrethe II, who recently turned 50 on the throne.

The Duchess spent her two-day trip learning about the country’s approach to child development by visiting the Lego Foundation Playlab at University College Copenhagen. She seemed to be quite comfortable and even went down a children’s slide (in heels!).

Kate then visited the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project and later the Stenurten Forest Kindergarten, where she learned about how the power of nature can be harnessed to support early-year learning. There she was seen laughing and playing with the children.

The Duchess also joined Princess Mary of Denmark on a visit to the Danner Crisis Center, a project supported by Danish royalty that aims to protect vulnerable women and children from domestic violence. The pair were photographed smiling and embracing on the journey, much to the delight of royal observers who got emotional on social media about the future queens working together.

what else is happening

Is tension building in the Cambridge house?

William and Catherine go head-to-head this weekend as England take on Wales in the Six Nations rugby championship on Saturday. The Duke is a royal patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, while Kate has recently become the patron of England Rugby. The couple – who have often revealed their competitive nature in sporting engagements – are scheduled to attend the game at London’s Twickenham Stadium.

Prince Harry’s latest lawsuit

The Duke of Sussex has launched a new legal battle against a UK publisher. Prince Harry has filed a complaint against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) – the publisher of titles such as The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, a spokesperson for the Duke said this week. Harry’s spokesperson did not share further details on which newspaper is facing litigation or why.

THE CNN contacted DMG Media, the parent company of ANL, for comment. Last year, Prince Harry called the British tabloid scene “toxic” during an interview with “The Late Late Show” host James Cordon. The new lawsuit comes months after Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, won her own legal battle against the ANL over publishing a letter she wrote to her father in 2018.

Earl of Wessex takes on the role of the father

Prince Edward has taken over his late father’s role as president of the Royal Windsor Horse Show. The Duke of Edinburgh had been a “hands-on” chairman of the event, which has been held on the private grounds of Windsor Castle since 1991. Philip was an experienced horseman and competed in international carriage driving competitions for 35 years. Edward said his father was “instrumental” in developing the equestrian festival into one of the most prestigious horse shows in the world.

The Earl and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, have been involved with the event for a long time, most recently as royal vice presidents, according to a press release from the organizers. The show is scheduled to do a Queen’s Jubilee-themed composition in May.

Royal tea break

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will this weekend be awarded the prestigious NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) President’s Award in New York in recognition of their humanitarian work and commitment to equality and social justice. The couple will be presented with the award at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards, which will be broadcast live on Saturday.

The NAACP is honoring Harry and Meghan for “distinguished public service” and for having “answered the call to social justice” in the United States and around the world, according to an NAACP press release. Past winners include Rihanna, Muhammad Ali, Lauryn Hill, Condoleezza Rice and LeBron James.

The couple also announced a new award in collaboration with the NAACP in an effort to continue to support and recognize future generations of civil rights leaders. Author and scholar Safiya Noble – who explores how digital technologies intersect with culture, race and gender – will receive the inaugural NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award.

Harry and Meghan said it was a “true honor” to be recognized by the President’s Award, the press release added. They said the NAACP’s work to ensure racial justice and protect civil rights is “vital.”

on the real agenda

Several members of the royal family will embark on trips abroad this spring to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee as Elizabeth II celebrates 70 years on the British throne.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will kick off their first tour next month, with the couple heading to the Caribbean where they will visit Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas between March 19-26. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will visit the Republic of Ireland for two days on March 23. Princess Anne will visit Papua New Guinea in mid-April. And finally, the Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward and his wife Sophie will round out the month, on a multi-stop tour that will pass through Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia and the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from of April 22nd.

In an Instagram post, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared their excitement about their upcoming Caribbean tour. “We can’t wait to meet people in all three countries, celebrate local cultures and understand more about the innovative work being done in the communities,” the duo wrote before signing the message “W&C”.

Did you know?

William’s Secret Trip to MI6 Headquarters

Speaking of the Duke of Cambridge, while his wife was in Denmark, he made an unannounced visit to the Secret Intelligence Service in London on Wednesday. The agency is perhaps better known as MI6 – thanks to James Bond – and it specializes in foreign intelligence. The media learned of the visit after it was placed in the Court Circular, which is the official record of royal engagements.

In 2019, the Duke completed a three-week engagement with the UK’s security and intelligence agencies, seeing firsthand the country’s fight against terrorism.

countess of wessex

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, met mothers and their babies as she opened the new Jigsaw Hub at The Lighthouse community center in Woking, England on February 24. The center hosts a number of projects aimed at supporting, encouraging and empowering marginalized and vulnerable members of society through training and provision of basic food baskets.

“We are with the people of Ukraine”

Harry and Meghan issued a statement in support of the European country after Ukraine was invaded by Russian forces on Thursday.

The couple called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions a “violation of international and humanitarian law” and called on the global community to do the same.