Queen Camilla is Queen Camilla is speaking about her health for the first time since the palace revealed she had to step back from royal engagements due to a chest infection.

The Queen, 77, returned to her royal duties on Nov. 12, a week after the palace shared news of her illness, which required her to cancel her scheduled engagements. As she continued her recovery, she also opted out of joining the royal family for Remembrance events over the weekend to prioritize her health.

During a reception at Clarence House for The Booker Prize Foundation, she shared an update on how she’s feeling.

“I’m obviously getting much better, bit of sort of coughing going on,” the Queen remarked in a video shared on X by Daily Mail royal correspondent Rebecca English on Nov. 12, which captured her speaking to a guest as she arrived.

“I really wanted to come,” she added about the event, which took place at her Clarence House home in London.

In another clip shared X, Camilla is heard saying: “I’m on the mend, these things always take a bit of time to get rid of. You think you got rid of it, they just sort of hang on for a bit,” as she spoke with American author Percival Everett, whose book James is shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize.

“But hopefully, I’m on the mend now. It’s nice to see you again,” she added.

Literacy is a cause close to heart for King Charles’ wife, who has long supported several literary organizations, including the Booker Prize, and is known to be a keen reader. She appeared at the engagement ahead of the Booker Prize 2024 ceremony, which is being held in London this evening.

Although she attended Tuesday’s event, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Queen Camilla will not accompany King Charles on the red carpet for the Gladiator II film premiere on Wednesday, Nov. 13. PEOPLE understands this decision was made as a precaution, easing her transition back to public duties without added strain.

The Clarence House outing marked Queen Camilla’s return to work after the palace announced on Nov. 5 that she had fallen ill with a chest infection and would be canceling her plans for the week. The King and Queen had recently returned from a long-distance trip to Australia and Samoa for a royal tour in October, the first official trip to a Commonwealth realm of his royal reign.