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The 77-year-old Queen joined domestic abuse survivors, advocates and staff at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in central London

Queen Camilla admitted she was “still a bit tired” whilst attending a reception marking Women’s Aid’s 50th anniversary today, as she continues her recovery from pneumonia.

The 77-year-old Queen joined domestic abuse survivors, advocates and staff at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in central London, just steps away from Clarence House.

Despite her ongoing fatigue from the illness, which was only revealed on Tuesday, Her Majesty remained committed to attending the significant anniversary celebration.

When asked about her health by charity representatives and survivors at the event, the Queen acknowledged her continued tiredness, telling attendees: “I am still a bit tired. It catches up a bit.”

Her Majesty has been forced to scale back her workload in recent weeks following doctors’ advice to safeguard her recovery.

The Queen missed several high-profile events, including the Royal Variety Performance and the Remembrance Day Service at The Cenotaph, after contracting the illness following a long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa.

During this week’s Qatari state visit, she opted to remain inside Buckingham Palace during the outdoor ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade.

Despite these adjustments, the Queen maintained her presence at key indoor events, including a lunch, a Royal Collection exhibition and the state banquet.

Women’s Aid ambassador Alice Liveing, who spoke with Her Majesty at today’s reception, later shared: “She said she was feeling pretty tired and she was on the mend, she was trying to juggle some bits.”

Despite her fatigue, Queen Camilla delivered an impromptu speech before cutting the anniversary cake, emphasising her unwavering commitment to the cause.

“If you think what’s happening now compared to what was happening 50 years ago, you must all be incredibly proud of yourselves,” she told attendees. “It’s terrible that after 50 years, it still hasn’t been eradicated, but we are making progress.”

The Queen made a passionate vow to continue her work, declaring: “I have no intention, now that I’ve started, to stop and I am determined to put an end to this. We have all got to pull together.”

She stressed the importance of survivor voices, stating: “Every time another survivor hears a voice it inspires them perhaps to get up and say something themselves.”

Her Majesty noted she had been “inundated with letters” following her recent ITV documentary on domestic abuse.

Among the notable attendees at the reception was Katie Piper, a Women’s Aid ambassador and acid attack survivor, who highlighted the severity of domestic abuse.

“It’s one of the most isolating and dangerous forms of abuse,” Piper said, noting that it often occurs behind closed doors.

Nikki Bradley, head of services at Women’s Aid, described domestic violence as a “public emergency” requiring urgent response.

“As a woman, you are over three times more likely to be killed by a partner than not wearing a seatbelt, but where are the public safety campaigns for abuse?” Bradley emphasised.

The Queen’s commitment was praised by Alice Liveing, who appeared in Her Majesty’s recent documentary and is herself a survivor of domestic abuse at age 16.

She’s a long-standing supporter of Women’s Aid and, more widely, domestic abuse, it’s very clear it’s very close to her heart,” Liveing said.