Queen Elizabeth Urged by Doctors to Rest at Least 2 Weeks

LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II has been advised by her doctors to rest for at least the next two weeks, Buckingham Palace said on Friday, deepening anxiety about her health that began last week when she abruptly canceled a visit to Northern Ireland because of what aides at the palace described as fatigue.

While the palace said the queen would continue to carry out “light, desk-based duties” and could conduct meetings via Zoom, she will not take part in any official events or ceremonies, including the Festival of Remembrance, a gala scheduled for Nov. 13 that honors soldiers and civilians who sacrificed for Britain in wartime.

For the queen, 95, to cancel her participation in an event two weeks in advance attests to the determination of her medical team that she rest. It also suggests that she has not bounced back, even after withdrawing to Windsor Castle and canceling her Northern Ireland visit, as well as other public appearances.

In a statement, the palace said, “Following on from their recent advice that the queen should rest for a few days, Her Majesty’s doctors have advised that she should continue to rest for at least the next two weeks.”

Buckingham Palace did not offer any new details about the queen’s condition, beyond saying she remains in good spirits and recorded a video address to be broadcast at the opening of the United Nations climate conference next week in Glasgow. She had earlier planned to attend a reception in Glasgow, but backed out on Tuesday.

Aides said last week that the queen’s decision to cancel the Northern Ireland trip was not related to Covid-19. They have described her as exhausted after a hectic series of public events that included a reception at Windsor Castle for business executives, including the technology billionaire, Bill Gates.

Although she will miss the Festival of Remembrance, which is held at Royal Albert Hall, the palace said she planned to attend the National Service of Remembrance, a solemn, related ceremony held the following day.

The queen had surprised some royal observers by resuming a hectic public schedule following the death in April of her husband, Prince Philip.