Royal news – live: Queen Camilla withdraws from engagements after becoming unwell with chest infection

Queen Camilla is unwell with a chest infection and has withdrawn from her engagements this week, Buckingham Palace has announced.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest.

“With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal.

“She apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”

It is understood the Queen will remain at home under doctor’s supervision while she recovers.

The Prince of Wales heard the cry “tackle the prince” when he challenged a group of teenagers to a game of touch rugby near Cape Town.

William joined former South Africa rugby internationals he called “legends” to take on the fast-footed schoolchildren from townships benefiting from a sporting project founded by ex-England rugby star Jason Leonard.

William seemed keen to get his hands on the ball, as he bravely tried to pass his way past the youngsters from Ocean View Secondary School in Ocean View, as one young player shouted “tackle the prince”.

At one point two teenagers grabbed William, stopping him in his tracks and leaving him laughing.

Blessings Gwedeza, 17, one of a number of young players who managed to tackle the prince, said afterwards: “It was an honour to meet him, to have the opportunity to play against him is something I won’t forget.”

In exciting news for royal fans, Buckingham Palace has announced it is set to open up its East Wing outside the traditional summer tourist season.

The expanded programme follows the success of this year’s annual summer opening, when it welcomed a record-breaking number of visitors and allowed access to the wing – which includes the famous central balcony – for the first time since it was built 175 years ago.

The 90-minute guided tours, from January to May and costing £90, will offer a more in-depth look at the history of the rooms in the East Wing at a time when the palace is not usually open to the public.

Early in the King’s reign, it was reported Charles planned to give people greater access to the palace all year round.

For the first time, visitors will be able to enter through the palace’s front gates and proceed across the forecourt, just as guests do for official royal events.

Prince William met with young conservationists as he took in the views of Cape Town’s famous Table Mountain on the second day of his visit to South Africa.

The Prince of Wales strode up Signal Hill and met rangers and volunteer conservationists as he learned about the rare and endangered plants that are part of the area’s biodiversity.

The hilltop gives panoramic views of Cape Town, with Table Mountain as a dramatic backdrop, and the prince posed for a picture at a spot set up for tourists.

The future king began a four-day visit to Cape Town on Monday and is taking part in a series of events shining a light on young African climate activists, the fight against the illegal wildlife trade, and promoting his Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.

Prince William is currently meeting the President of South Africa on his second day of his visit to the country.

The prince was pictured shaking hands with Cyril Ramaphosa at his Official Residence in Cape Town on Tuesday.

William’s audience with Mr Ramaphosa has been described as a “follow-up” to the state visit made to the UK by the president in 2022.

The Prince of Wales will have a high-level meeting with South Africa’s president and Foreign Secretary David Lammy as he continues his visit to the Commonwealth nation.

William’s audience with Cyril Ramaphosa has been described as a “follow-up” to the state visit made to the UK by Mr Ramaphosa in 2022.

The prince and the president will sit down for talks and be joined by Mr Lammy, who is in the country for a meeting with his South African counterpart Ronald Lamola.

Antony Phillipson, Britain’s high commissioner to South Africa, said about the royal visit: “I would just highlight that we are actually delighted to have the Prince of Wales here this week for Earthshot week, and we will be taking the opportunity of doing some bilateral events with him, and for him.”

He added: “We very much see this as a follow-up to the state visit… which we continue to see here as a very historic moment between the UK and South Africa.”

Tensions are continuing to build between Prince Andrew and King Charles over the disgraced duke’s residence at his 31-bedroom Windsor mansion.

Royal commentators have suggested Andrew is standing firm on his plans to remain in the £3mn Royal Lodge, despite his brother making it increasingly difficult for him to live there and shocking images showing the house in a state of disrepair.

Royal author Christopher Wilson believes the duke is “digging his toes in” and “shoving up two fingers at” Charles as he continues to live at the former home of the late Queen Mother and King George VI.

“It’s dishonouring [the Queen Mother’s] memory. It’s shoving up two fingers at King Charles,” he told The Sun. “The state of his mind is reflected in the state of his home. It is falling all around him. He doesn’t care anymore.”

In her new documentary, Camilla is seen visiting a refuge and speaking candidly with domestic abuse survivors about their deeply personal experiences.

Earlier this year, Camilla backed The Independent’s Brick by Brick campaign to build two new refuges for women fleeing abuse. Thanks to generous donations from readers the initial £300,000 target has recently been reached, with more than £500,000 of donations pouring in so far and plans are already underway for the building of a second home.

Speaking about the importance of refuges in the documentary Camilla says: “You flee and you arrive at this haven. Room of their own, a door they can lock. And as time goes by, they start having their confidence restored and start their life anew.

“These refuges are literally life savers. Without these refuges, where would they go?”