Queen admits feeling 'tired and exhausted' after frightening Covid battle

11 April 2022, 06:05 | Updated: 11 April 2022, 08:26

The Queen has opened up about her experience with Covid
The Queen has opened up about her experience with Covid. Picture: Alamy

By Daisy Stephens

The Queen has spoken about her bout of Covid as she sympathised with a former virus patient who lost his brother and father to the illness.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The monarch tested positive for Covid in February and, despite having what Buckingham Palace said were "mild cold-like symptoms", was determined to carry out what duties she could.

She later overcame her bout of the virus and described the experience during a virtual visit to the Royal London Hospital on Wednesday, to mark the official opening of the medical institution's Queen Elizabeth Unit.

During her video call with workers and medical staff, the Queen listened to their stories of coping with the huge influx of Covid patients, and was told by one senior nurse "we held their hands, we wiped their tears and we provided comfort".

Read more: Sunak fights for job after referring himself to sleaze watchdog over wife's tax affairs

Read more: Easter Scorcher: UK to be hotter than Greece as Bank Holiday temperatures soar to 20C

Around 800 people from across north-east London were treated at the 155-bed Queen Elizabeth Unit, built in five weeks to meet the demand instead of the normal time period of five months, and the Queen hailed the Dunkirk spirit that inspired the construction team.

Speaking to former Covid patient Asef Hussain, and his wife Shamina, the Queen said about the virus: "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."

Queen reveals she was left ‘very tired and exhausted’ during bout of Covid

Mr Hussain was the third member of his family to be admitted to hospital with Covid after they became ill towards the end of December 2020.

His brother died first and then his father, who passed away while Mr Hussain was on a ventilator.

The Queen was told his wife called the ambulance after he had struggled to catch his breath, and Mr Hussain added: "I remember waking up one morning and just finding it really, really difficult to breathe.

"I remember waking my wife saying that I feel like there's no oxygen in the room.

"I remember me sticking my head out the window, just trying to breathe, trying to get that extra oxygen."

He was eventually put on a ventilator for seven weeks at the Royal London Hospital, and is still recovering, having recently dispensed with his wheelchair but now using a portable oxygen machine.

Watch: 'No civilians were killed by our missiles': Watch Russian news host's outrageous interview

Read more: Emmanuel Macron will go head-to-head with Marine Le Pen in run-off for presidency

Mrs Hussain told the Queen at one point there were 500 friends and family from across the world on a Zoom call praying for her husband, and the monarch lightened the mood and made the couple smile when she asked: "So you have a large family, or a large influence on people?"

The issue of families and friends being unable to visit loved ones being treated in hospital was discussed a number of times during the Queen's video call with hospital staff, and at one point she said: "Of course not being able to see your relative was very hard."

Kate Middleton announced as new patron of Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League

Mireia Lopez Rey Ferrer, a senior sister who has worked at the hospital in Whitechapel, east London, since 2008, told the Queen about their commitment to the patients.

She said: "As nurses we made sure that they were not alone.

"We held their hands, we wiped their tears and we provided comfort.

"It felt at times that we were running a marathon with no finish line."

She added: "I look back to the last 18 months with great pride, pride not only in the care we provided to each and every single patient, that was in one of our hospital beds, but pride in each member of staff that every day they left their families at home despite their fears and worries and they came to work."

Polly Fitch, a clinical psychologist who ran the unit's family support team, described how information was put beside patients beds so medical staff knew their backgrounds and Imam Faruq Siddiqi, a chaplain who is part of the hospital's multi-faith team, said his presence was viewed with a sense of "hope" by families.

Read more: Police launch investigation after Ronaldo filmed 'slapping phone out of young fan's hands'

Watch: 'I can't feel positive emotions': NHS conversion therapy survivor begs govt for full ban

The head of state, who is the hospital's patron, said to the Imam: "It was obviously a very frightening experience to have Covid very badly, wasn't it?"

At the end of the call, the the Queen chatted to the construction team who created the unit on the hospital's 14th and 15th floors in quick time, and told them: "It is very interesting, isn't it, when there is some very vital thing, how everybody works together and pulls together - marvellous isn't it?"

When the team hailed the "Dunkirk spirit" that inspired them, the monarch replied: "Thank goodness it still exists."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Susan McGowan died after taking the weight-loss drug tirzepatide

Nurse becomes first UK death linked to NHS-approved weight-loss jab Mounjaro

Violence broke out after the match in Amsterdam

Israeli football fans targeted by pro-Palestine 'hit-and-run attacks' as 62 arrested, Amsterdam mayor says

Brave daughter refused to open safe for armed criminals who posed as police to raid £2.5m Sandbanks home

Brave daughter refused to open safe for armed criminals who posed as police to raid £2.5m Sandbanks home

The woman was hit on Garratt lane, Earlsfield

E-bike rider arrested after crash left woman in 70s fighting for life

Kate will attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph and the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall this weekend.

Princess Kate to join royals at Remembrance events this weekend - but Queen's attendance depends on medical advice

Dozens of cars were washed away as new flash flooding hit a town in Spain

Scenes of destruction as new flash floods hit Spanish town - washing away dozens of cars

Violence broke out after the match in Amsterdam

Israel sends planes to Amsterdam to 'rescue' football fans as Dutch PM condemns 'anti-Semitic attacks'

David Lammy dismisses Donald Trump 'neo-Nazi symathiser' comments as 'old news'

David Lammy dismisses past criticism of Donald Trump as 'old news' conceding pair will find 'common ground'

Sir Mark Rowley said people with ‘huge influence’ had made comments that risked undermining justice

Met chief Sir Mark Rowley delivers thinly-veiled rebuke to Sadiq Khan and other figures over Chris Kaba remarks

Military dogs get £3m kit upgrade including goggles and combat vests to help k9s parachute into war

Military dogs get £3m kit boost with goggles, vests, and boots to prepare them for parachute drops into combat zones

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Migrant caravan of thousands heads towards US border amid fears of Trump’s return to hardline policies

Migrant caravan of thousands makes 'mad dash' to US border ahead of crackdown after Trump takes office

One Direction star Liam Payne's death 'not suicide' Argentina prosecutors say - as three people charged over death

One Direction star Liam Payne's death 'not suicide' Argentina prosecutors say - as three people charged over death

Baby P's mother 'recalled to prison just two years after release' for breaching licence conditions

Baby P's mother, Tracey Connelly, makes fresh bid for freedom weeks after prison recall for breaching licence conditions

Son of farmer who took his own life fearing Budget inheritance tax raid says Starmer 'has blood on his hands'

Son of farmer who took his own life fearing Budget inheritance tax raid says Starmer 'has blood on his hands'

Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer pledges £3.5 million to support homeless veterans ahead of Remembrance Sunday