Queen Elizabeth Cancels Virtual Events for 2nd Time Since Covid Test

• Feb. 24, 2022Updated 5:14 p.m. ET

Queen Elizabeth II postponed her daily virtual engagements on Thursday, Buckingham Palace said, the second time she has taken such a step since she tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday.

Several people at Windsor Castle, where the 95-year-old queen has spent most of her time in virtual quarantine during the pandemic, were infected this week, according to a palace official. It is not known who exposed her to the virus.

The queen tested positive on Sunday, after meeting at Windsor Castle with her son and heir Prince Charles earlier this month. Charles, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, subsequently tested positive for the coronavirus for a second time and went into isolation.

On Thursday, the palace did not specify why the queen’s meetings were called off, so it was unclear whether the move reflected lingering Covid symptoms. On Tuesday, the palace said she had canceled virtual events because she was “still experiencing mild coldlike symptoms.”

The palace said the queen would be “continuing with light duties,” and that she had no other engagements scheduled this week. It did not say when Thursday’s virtual engagements would be rescheduled.

But the queen did have her regularly scheduled call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday, the palace said. Between her coronavirus recovery and the crisis unfolding in Ukraine there had been some doubt about whether their phone meeting would go ahead.

The news of her illness came as Mr. Johnson made moves to lift England’s remaining coronavirus restrictions this week.

Elizabeth received her first shot of coronavirus vaccine in January 2021 at Windsor Castle with her late husband, Prince Philip. The palace has not publicly confirmed any additional vaccine doses.