The Queen revealed that she felt “very tired and exhausted” during a virtual visit to the Royal London Hospital for the official opening of the Queen Elizabeth Unit. Buckingham Palace confirmed that she had “mild cold-like symptoms” when she tested positive for COVID-19 but continued to carry out light duties.

During her visit, the Queen spoke to Asef Hussain, who lost his brother and father to the virus. Mr. Hussain shared his harrowing experience of being the third family member hospitalized with COVID-19 in December 2020. His father passed away while he was on a ventilator, and his wife had to call an ambulance when he struggled to breathe. Mr. Hussain described waking up feeling like there was no oxygen and desperately trying to catch his breath.

The Queen empathized with Mr. Hussain, acknowledging the toll of the pandemic by saying, “It does leave one very tired and exhausted, doesn’t it? This horrible pandemic. It’s not a nice result.”