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The Queen has told guests at the state visit that her chest infection was a form of pneumonia.

Camilla is suffering from post-viral fatigue and is missing the outdoor elements of the Qatari visit after being urged by her doctors to take more time to recover.

It is understood Camilla’s condition was viral, not bacterial, and she no longer has pneumonia.

The Queen missed the outdoor ceremonial welcome on a chilly Horse Guards Parade on Tuesday.

Instead, she arrived at Buckingham Palace shortly beforehand, giving a smile as she stepped from her car at the Grand Entrance.

Queen Camilla arrives at Buckingham Palace, London, during the state visit to the UK of the Emir of Qatar and the first of his three wives. Picture date: Tuesday December 3, 2024.
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The Queen’s condition is not understood to be bacterial

Camilla, 77, waited for the Emir of Qatar and his wife inside, in the warm surroundings of the Grand Hall.

She contracted her illness after a long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa and has pulled out a series of engagements since then, including the Royal Variety Performance, the Gladiator II premiere and the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph.

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It is understood the Queen was not taken to hospital with pneumonia, but is now facing bouts of extreme tiredness.

Her medical team has advised her to take each day as it comes.

She will join the King, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the emir for a group photo before the banquet later. But she will take a short break before dinner while guests are met in a receiving line.

Kate makes rare appearance for Qatari visit

The royal visitors were officially welcomed in Whitehall by King Charles before the emir inspected a guard of honour by the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards on Horse Guards Parade.

The Prince and Princess of Wales had followed tradition and joined Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher, on their journey from their private residence to Whitehall.

Britain's William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend a ceremonial welcome during the state visit of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and his wife Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al-Thani, at Horse Guards Parade, in London, Britain, December 3, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville
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The Prince and Princess of Wales at the ceremonial welcome for the emir of Qatar. Pic: PA

Britain's King Charles, William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales stand with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and his wife Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al-Thani, during a ceremonial welcome for the Qatari Emir and his wife, at the Horse Guards Parade, in London, Britain, December 3, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Pic: PA

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales greets dignitaries including Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, as she arrives ahead of a Ceremonial Welcome for the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his wife Sheikha Jawaher, at Horse Guards Parade in London, Tuesday Dec. 3, 2024. (Henry Nicholls via AP, Pool)
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The Princess of Wales greets dignitaries including Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley. Pic: PA

The Princess of Wales (right) greets Sheikha Jawaher, the wife of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in London, on behalf of the King, before the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade, for their state visit to the UK. Picture date: Tuesday December 3, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Qatar. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire
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The Princess of Wales greets Sheikha Jawaher, the wife of the emir of Qatar, in London. Pic: PA

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, greets dignitaries as she arrives ahead of a Ceremonial Welcome for the Emir of Qatar at the Horse Guards Parade in London on December 3, 2024, on the first day of their two-day State Visit to Britain. The Emir of Qatar and his wife are in the UK for a two-day state visit, hosted by Britain's King. HENRY NICHOLLS/Pool via REUTERS
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Kate greets dignitaries as she arrives ahead of a Ceremonial Welcome for the Emir of Qatar

The royal women travelled in one chauffeur-driven limousine while the men travelled in another as they made their way to the parade ground where the waiting King greeted his guests warmly on a dais.

The princess looked relaxed as she stepped from a chauffeur-driven car with the prince, one of only a handful of official events Kate has carried out this year.

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It’s one of the princess’s few official appearances during a year in which she has undergone treatment for cancer.

Kate has been gradually returning to royal duties after saying in September her chemotherapy treatment had finished, but she won’t go to the state banquet hosted by the King, where William will be a guest.

King Charles III (centre) and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (right) during the ceremonial welcome for the Emir of Qatar and his wife Sheikha Jawaher at Horse Guards Parade, London during the state visit to the UK of the Emir of Qatar and the first of his three wives. Picture date: Tuesday December 3, 2024.
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King Charles III and the emir of Qatar inspect troops on Horse Guards Parade. Pic: PA

Sheikh Tamim, 44, who was educated in Britain, has a busy schedule of engagements aimed at strengthening the ties between the UK and the Middle East nation, including meeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

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Teenager living in ‘continuous pain’ after surgeon Dr Yaser Jabbar carried out ‘inappropriate’ operations

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Teenager living in 'continuous pain' after surgeon Dr Yaser Jabbar carried out 'inappropriate' operations

A 15-year-old boy who was operated on twice by a now unlicensed Great Ormond Street surgeon is living with “continuous” pain.

Finias Sandu has been told by an independent review the procedures he underwent on both his legs were “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” for his age.

The teenager from Essex was born with a condition that causes curved bones in his legs.

Aged seven, a reconstructive procedure was carried out on Finias’s left leg, lengthening the limb by 3.5cm.

A few years later, the same operation was carried out on his right leg which involved wearing an invasive and heavy metal frame for months.

He has now been told by independent experts these procedures should not have taken place and concerns have been raised over a lack of imaging being taken prior to the operations.

Dr Yasser Jabbar. Pic: Linkedin
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Yaser Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence last year. Pic: LinkedIn

His doctor at London’s prestigious Great Ormond Street Hospital was former consultant orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar. Sky News has spoken to others he treated.

Mr Jabbar also did not arrange for updated scans or for relevant X-rays to be conducted ahead of the procedures.

The surgeries have been found to have caused Finias “harm” and left him in constant pain.

“The pain is there every day, every day I’m continuously in pain,” he told Sky News.

“It’s not something really sharp, although it does get to a certain point where it hurts quite a lot, but it’s always there. It just doesn’t leave, it’s a companion to me, just always there.”

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Finias Sandu's surgery pictures
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Finias’s surgery pictures

Care of over 700 patients being assessed

Mr Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence in January last year after working at Great Ormond Street between 2017 and 2022.

The care of his 700-plus patients is being assessed, with some facing corrective surgery, among them Finias.

Finias Sandu in hospital

“Trusting somebody is hard to do, knowing what they have done to me physically and emotionally, you know, it’s just too much to comprehend for me,” he said.

“It wasn’t something just physically, like my leg pain and everything else. It was emotionally, because I put my trust in that specific doctor. My parents and I don’t really understand the more scientific terms, we just went by what he said.”

Finias Sandu in hospital

Doctors refused to treat Finias because of his surgeries

Finias and his family relocated to their native Romania soon after the reconstructive frame was removed from his right leg in the summer of 2021.

The pain worsened and they sought advice from doctors in Romania, who refused to treat Finias because of the impact of his surgeries.

Finias Sandu in hospital

Dozens of families seeking legal claims

His mother Cornelia Sandu is “furious” and feels her trust in the hospital has been shattered. They are now among dozens of families seeking legal claims.

Cyrus Plaza from Hudgell Solicitors is representing the family. He said: “In cases where it has been identified that harm was caused, we want to see Great Ormond Street Hospital agreeing to pay interim payments of compensation for the children, so that if they need therapy or treatment now, they can access it.”

Finias Sandu in hospital

Finias is accessing therapy and mental health support as he prepares for corrective surgery later in the year.

A spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital told Sky News: “We are deeply sorry to Finias and his family, and all the patients and families who have been impacted.

“We want every patient and family who comes to our hospital to feel safe and cared for. We will always discuss concerns families may have and, where they submit claims, we will work to ensure the legal process can be resolved as quickly as possible.”

Finias Sandu with his mother and sister
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Finias with his mother and sister

Service not ‘safe for patients’

Sky News has attempted to contact Mr Jabbar.

An external review into the wider orthopaedic department at the hospital began in September 2022.

It was commissioned after the Royal College of Surgeons warned the hospital’s lower limb reconstruction service was not “safe for patients or adequate to meet demand”.

The investigation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

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Keir Starmer says closer EU ties will be good for UK jobs, bills and borders ahead of key talks

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Keir Starmer says closer EU ties will be good for UK jobs, bills and borders ahead of key talks

Sir Keir Starmer has said closer ties with the EU will be good for the UK’s jobs, bills and borders ahead of a summit where he could announce a deal with the bloc.

The government is set to host EU leaders in London on Monday as part of its efforts to “reset” relations post-Brexit.

A deal granting the UK access to a major EU defence fund could be on the table, according to reports – but disagreements over a youth mobility scheme and fishing rights could prove to be a stumbling block.

The prime minister has appeared to signal a youth mobility deal could be possible, telling The Times that while freedom of movement is a “red line”, youth mobility does not come under this.

His comment comes after Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, said on Friday work on a defence deal was progressing but “we’re not there yet”.

Sir Keir met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen later that day while at a summit in Albania.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen ahead of their bilateral meeting as he attends the European Political Community Summit (EPC) in Tirana, Albania. Picture date: Friday May 16, 2025. Leon Neal/PA Wire
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Ursula von der Leyen and Sir Keir had a brief meeting earlier this week. Pic: PA

If agreed, the deal will be the third in two weeks, following trade agreements with India and the US.

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Sir Keir said: “First India, then the United States – in the last two weeks alone that’s jobs saved, faster growth and wages rising.

“More money in the pockets of British working people, achieved through striking deals not striking poses.

“Tomorrow, we take another step forward, with yet more benefits for the United Kingdom as the result of a strengthened partnership with the European Union.”

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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she is “worried” about what the PM might have negotiated.

Ms Badenoch – who has promised to rip up the deal with the EU if it breaches her red lines on Brexit – said: “Labour should have used this review of our EU trade deal to secure new wins for Britain, such as an EU-wide agreement on Brits using e-gates on the continent.

“Instead, it sounds like we’re giving away our fishing quotas, becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again and getting free movement by the back door. This isn’t a reset, it’s a surrender.”

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Man arrested at Luton Airport in connection with fires at properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer

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Man arrested at Luton Airport in connection with fires at properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer

A second man has been arrested in connection with fires at two properties and a car linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The 26-year-old was arrested around 1.45pm at Luton Airport on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

The arrest was made by counter terrorism officers. The man has been taken into police custody in London.

It comes after a Ukrainian man, 21, was charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.

Roman Lavrynovych appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was remanded in custody.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command led the investigation because of the connections to the prime minister.

Emergency services were called to a fire in the early hours of Monday at a house in Kentish Town, north London, where Sir Keir lived with his family before the election.

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Damage was caused to the property’s entrance, but nobody was hurt.

A car was also set alight in the same street last Thursday.

There was another blaze at the front door of a house converted into flats in Islington, also linked to the prime minister, on Sunday.

One person was taken to safety via an internal staircase by crews wearing breathing apparatus.

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