Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who turns 96 soon, has spoken of serious fatigue after she contracted Covid-19 in February despite aides downplaying her illness, AFP reports.

At the time, Buckingham Palace said the vaccinated monarch had “mild, cold-like symptoms”. But she was forced to cancel a series of appointments with foreign diplomats, at the start of her record-breaking 70th year on the throne.

Queen Elizabeth recalled her experience when she spoke to staff and patients by video-link to mark the opening of a hospital unit named in her honour in east London.

Speaking to one former Covid patient who required ventilation, the queen said about the virus: “It does leave one very tired and exhausted, doesn't it?

“This horrible pandemic. It's not a nice result,” she said, according to footage released by the palace.