Queen Camilla's painful health battles in full following sad latest update

As Queen Camilla opens up about her pneumonia ordeal, the Mirror takes a look back at her painful health history and the determined measures she's taken when sticking to her royal duties

Queen Camilla has opened up about her pneumonia ordeal, and it isn't the first time she's had an agonising health battle to contend with.

Addressing guests at the state visit of Qatar's Emir and his wife today, the Queen revealed that her chest infection, which has seen her miss a number of high-profile engagements, was a form of pneumonia.

Camilla, 77, who no longer has pneumonia, is now suffering from post-viral fatigue. At the urging of doctors who've advised her to focus on recovery, Camilla, whose illness was viral, not bacterial, will be missing the outdoor elements of the Qatari visit.

This included today's (December 3) Horse Guards Parade. Instead, Camilla arrived at Buckingham Palace shortly beforehand, smiling as she stepped out of her car before the Grand Entrance. The Queen then waited for the Emir of Qatar and his wife inside the warmth of the Grand Hall.

It's understood Camilla contracted her chest infection following her and King Charles' long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa. In the weeks since, she's had to pull out of a number of engagements, including the Royal Variety Performance, the premiere of Gladiator II, and the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph.

It is understood Camilla wasn't admitted to the hospital with pneumonia but is now having to endure bouts of extreme tiredness.

Determined Camilla is known for remaining strong even when in agony, adhering to her Royal duties even when faced with broken bones, and wince-inducing injuries. Here, the Mirror takes a look at some of the new Queen's painful health battles...

This year, Queen Camilla has been focused on King Charles' health following his cancer diagnosis, and has been heaped with praise for keeping 'the show on the road' during the monarch's absence from his royal duties earlier this year.

However, Her Majesty, who has been hailed as the monarchy’s 'saviour' after a particularly difficult 12 months, has also endured a number of health struggles over the years and was even secretly nursing a broken toe during her early days as the new Queen Consort.

Despite being in pain, Camilla was said to have been an 'absolute trouper' as her husband Charles acceded to the throne in 2022, even standing during lengthy public appearances including the late Queen Elizabeth II’s lying in state.

The former Mrs Parker Bowles has also contracted Covid twice - the second time being in February 2022, which saw her cancel engagements and spend time resting.

Back in 2019, while still Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla pulled out of a gala dinner on the advice of doctors after contracting a chest infection. One day later, she missed an event at Westminster Abbey’s Field of Remembrance with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Clarence House said at the time that the infection had progressively worsened.

The year 2010 proved to be a particularly trying one for Camilla, who spent several days in the hospital, followed by a six-week rest period after undergoing a hysterectomy – a major procedure to remove her womb. Aides confirmed at the time that the surgery was not cancer-related.

That same year, Camilla broke her left leg while walking in Scotland. But just as she would one day do during her husband's early reign, she soldiered on regardless, carrying out engagements while her leg was still in plaster. She managed to get about with the help of crutches, an NHS wheelchair, and even a mobility scooter, which she rode in while presenting Afghanistan campaign medals to soldiers from A Company 4th Battalion The Rifles at Bulford Camp, near Salisbury, Wiltshire. Once her cast was finally removed, Camilla quipped: “I’ll be glad to get back in the Jimmy Choos.”

Like her husband, the King, Queen Camilla has at times suffered from back problems and, also in 2010, a painful trapped nerve forced her to cancel a series of engagements in Poland during her and Charles' tour of Eastern Europe. Therefore, to ensure greater comfort, a royal cushion is sometimes brought along for Camilla during engagements.

In terms of keeping fit and healthy, Camilla makes sure to keep active. She's known to have a love of ballet, and attends weekly Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swan classes with pals. Like Charles, Camilla likes getting out and about walking in the fresh country air and also shares his passion for gardening and painting.

Although the Queen was once a heavy smoker – a habit Charles is said to hate – it's understood that she quit many years ago. Up until 2001, Camilla was smoking as many as 10 cigarettes a day, but, as reported by The Daily Mail at the time, however, a "persistent cough which she couldn't shake off", plus a nasty case of rhinitis, prompted her to put away the cigs for good. As she reportedly told a pal: "It wasn't so much me giving up smoking, rather smoking giving up on me."

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