The Queen holds weekly call with PM as she continues to isolate with Covid-19

23 February 2022, 19:44 | Updated: 23 February 2022, 19:46

The Queen has held her weekly telephone audience with the Prime Minister
The Queen has held her weekly telephone audience with the Prime Minister. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane

The Queen has held her weekly telephone audience with the Prime Minister despite having Covid-19, Buckingham Palace said.

Her Majesty spoke to the Prime Minister this evening by telephone as she continues to isolate at Windsor after contracting the virus.

Another planned in-person audience today was cancelled.

The monarch, 95, who tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, cancelled virtual audiences on Tuesday as she continued to suffer from mild cold-like symptoms.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "Her Majesty did speak to the Prime Minister this evening."

There will have been much to discuss during the conversation with Boris Johnson on Wednesday evening, with the Government dealing with the escalating crisis in Ukraine amid reports Russia could invade within 48 hours.

Mr Johnson is also embroiled in the partygate saga, with the Metropolitan Police investigating a dozen events, including as many as six which the PM reportedly attended.

The Queen's advanced age, Covid diagnosis, and recent health scare mean her medical team will be keeping a close eye on her progress, but being well enough to speak to the Prime Minister will be taken as an encouraging sign.

The nation's longest reigning monarch, who will have been triple vaccinated, recently spent more than three months resting, on doctors' orders.

In the autumn, she pulled out of attending the Cop26 climate change summit, the Festival of Remembrance and then the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph service due to a sprained back. She also missed the Church of England's General Synod.

The Queen now regularly uses a walking stick and has been pictured looking frailer recently.

She remarked during a Windsor Castle audience last week: "Well, as you can see, I can't move."

Next week, the head of state has a major engagement on March 2 when she is due to host the Diplomatic Reception and meet hundreds of dignitaries at Windsor.

Mr Johnson is the 14th prime minister of the Queen's long reign.

The pair have held their weekly audiences - which follow Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons - by telephone for much of the pandemic, with the monarch usually seated in her Oak Room sitting room taking the call on an old-fashioned phone.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Former Chief Whip Simon Hart has revealed details of a call from a Tory MP who asked to be saved from a brothel.

Former Chief Whip shares desperate call from Tory MP who 'needed saving from brothel with KGB agent and CCTV'

Tesco app and website.

Tesco app and website reporting issues, leaving customers unable to do online shopping

Exclusive
A graphic depiction of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, the two documentary makers behind the project are now facing criticism over the children featured.

BBC has 'serious questions to answer' over claims Gaza documentary features Hamas leader's son, says John Sopel

Charlotte Peet has gone missing in Brazil.

Father of Brit journalist missing in Brazil breaks silence as he reveals moment daughter's 'trail went cold'

Avoriaz is a French mountain resort

Brit skier, 23, found dead beneath French Alps cliff after 'plunging 260ft on return from night out'

Austrian police arrest teenager over 'attack at railway station'

Isis supporting boy, 14, 'who planned attack at railway station' held by Austrian police

Janice Nix, 66, was charged with manslaughter in connection with death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard in 1978

Woman, 66, appears in court charged with manslaughter of five-year-old who died after scalding bath

Davi Nunes Moreira, of Planalto, Brazil, passed away seven days after injecting a solution made from a crushed butterfly into his leg.

Boy who injected himself with crushed butterfly for 'online challenge' suffered week of agonising symptoms before death

Jack Bennett pleaded guilty to sending malicious communications to the mayor of London and the Birmingham Yardley MP

Man jailed for sending malicious messages to Sir Sadiq Khan and Jess Phillips was 'radicalised online,' Mayor tells LBC

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the stabbing of a 20-year-old man in Hackney.

Two men arrested on suspicion of murder after 20-year-old dies in east London stabbing

Near-Earth asteroid, artwork

NASA scientist increase chance of 'city killer' asteroid 'the size of Big Ben' striking earth

The scene in Godstone after a sinkhole appeared on Monday night. The large sinkhole has forced the closure of the high street in the Surrey village.

Major incident declared after second sinkhole opens up on residential Surrey street

Exclusive
Sadiq Khan

'It's bonkers': Sadiq Khan hits out at Trump for 'rewarding' Putin while excluding Ukraine from peace talks

The mother of Lindsay Foreman, left, who is being detained in Iran for alleged espionage, says the charges are made up.

Mother of Brit detained in Iran during round-the-world motorbike trip says espionage charges are 'made up'

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Trump is living in a ‘disinformation space’, says Zelenskyy as he hits back at US for ‘helping’ Putin 'come out of isolation'

Examples of 'zombie knives' at a secure police location in Birmingham. Underage teenagers buying knives online remains 'a really concerning picture' for police, with illegal dealers selling weapons via social media.

Labour announces crackdown on online knife sellers as weapons 'easier for young people to buy than paracetamol'