ROME – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday that Queen Elizabeth II was “in very good shape” during their weekly conversation earlier this week.
His comment comes a day after Buckingham Palace said doctors told the 95-year-old monarch to rest for another two weeks.
“I spoke to Her Majesty as I do every week as part of my job and she was in very good shape,” Johnson told ITV News on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome.
As Prime Minister, Johnson has a weekly meeting with the Queen. The most recent one happened around Wednesday.
“Her doctors have told her she should rest, and I think we have to respect that and understand that, and everyone wishes her all the best,” Johnson said.
Last week, the Queen underwent medical checks and spent a night at London’s King Edward VII Hospital, her first stay in eight years.
The Queen has continued to work since then and will continue her office duties.
During her break, she will miss the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, which begins on Sunday. However, I recorded a message that will be conveyed to the audience.
It will also skip the November 13th Festival of Remembrance at London’s Royal Albert Hall, an event meant to honor the British and Commonwealth men and women who fought wars, disasters and epidemics to protect and defend the nation.
However, the palace said it was the Queen’s “firm intention” to be present at Sunday’s memorial service in central London on November 14.
Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, is set to celebrate her platinum jubilee – 70 years on the throne – next year.
