Queen Silvia of Sweden, 80, is forced to pull out of state visit to Singapore due to 'serious respiratory infection'

Queen Silvia of Sweden has pulled out of her and King Carl XVI Gustaf's state visit to Singapore due to a 'severe respiratory infection', the palace has announced.

The Swedish royal couple had planned to visit the island country from November 19 to November 21 - but now, only the reigning monarch will be in attendance.

Queen Silvia was 'looking forward' to the trip and 'regrets that she is unable to accompany The King', the palace's statement said.

It added: 'Out of consideration for the Singaporean hosts and the rest of the State Visit delegation, The Queen chooses to remain in Sweden, to not risk exposing others to infection.'

Shared on the Royal Household's website, the full statement read: 'Due to a severe respiratory infection, HM The Queen has decided not to accompany HM The King on the State Visit to Singapore 19–21 November.

'The Queen was looking forward to visiting Singapore and regrets that she is unable to accompany The King on the trip. 

'However, out of consideration for the Singaporean hosts and the rest of the State Visit delegation, The Queen chooses to remain in Sweden, to not risk exposing others to infection.

'Her Majesty’s planned individual parts of the State Visit programme will be carried out by accompanying state secretary and the First Lady of the Court.'

It comes after Britain's Queen Camilla was forced to cancel some of her public engagements earlier this month after being laid low by a nasty chest infection.

Last week, King Charles' wife, 77, reassured she was 'on the mend' as she conducted her first public engagement after picking up the seasonal bug.

On November 11, Queen Silvia cut an elegant figure in a deep purple outfit as she attended an awards ceremony in Stockholm.

The royal was joined by her husband King Carl XVI Gustaf, 78, as the couple looked on while the winners of The Marcus Wallenberg Prize 2024 for scientific achievements within forestry were announced.

The Swedish queen wore a stunning mauve ensemble complete with a lace bodice for the occasion, having arrived at the event in a black coat complete with a fur trim.

When seated in the venue, she added a shawl in the same shade to keep off the chill. 

Silvia, who has been married to Carl XVI Gustaf since 1976 - seven years before he acceded to the throne - completed her regal look with two strings of pearls and a pair of diamond earrings. 

Her black, kitten heels were adorned with diamantes, continuing the sparkly theme. 

The mother-of-three wore her brown hair in a voluminous blow dry and kept her make-up simple, adding only black eyeliner and a slick of lipstick.  

Meanwhile, Carl XVI Gustaf, who walked behind Silvia as she entered the venue with Fanny Sachs - the wife of Swedish banker and industrialist Marcus Wallenberg, whose late father the prize is named after - looked dapper in black tie.

The longest reigning monarch in Swedish history, Carl XVI Gustaf, wore a black suit along with a white dress shirt and black bowtie. 

According to the official website of The Marcus Wallenberg Prize, its purpose is 'to recognise, encourage and stimulate pathbreaking scientific achievements which contribute significantly to broadening knowledge and to technical development within the fields of importance to forestry and forest industries.'