31st August 2023 10f
QUEEN RECOVERS FROM ILLNESS. RETURN TO WORK "IMMINENT" Last summer Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth IV was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a medical condition where the bodies own immune system turns against itself. The condition while serious is treatable however patients usually are under the care of doctors for around a year. Today the Bayer Families official spokesman, Pierre Littheim, announced that the Queen has been officially cleared by her doctors and is keen to return to her work of running the nation. The condition saw the Queen in and out of hospital to receive treatment and at times she required a feeding tube. During this time the Kingdom was being run by Crown Prince Theodor with support from his father Duke Miks Hummelberg and his sister Princess Constance. The 23 year old Prince will on Monday however hand full control of the nation back to his mother. The Crown-Prince confirmed this while visiting the Throne Castle where his mother has currently been convalescing. His Highness spoke briefly with press stating clearly "My mother is someone who is committed to hard work. She has been climbing the walls the past few months waiting for her condition to reach a point where she can undertake all her duties with the passion and energy she has always given us. I've had a small taste of what she does on a day to day basis and while I know sadly I'll have to do so again I will be offering prayers at Temple tomorrow it is not for a very long time. I've made mistakes this past year or so and despite my father and sisters advice have not made the most of opportunities presented to the Kingdom. I will sit down and discuss such things with mother and I am confident she will educate me in my failings and ensure I, and more importantly, the Kingdom emerge stronger."
A short written statement has been released by the Queen stating "I thank the people of Medusalin for their patience and their love. It is ironic that an island with a history such as ours hasn't coped better with one person being ill. This was a situation we have never truly faced in the modern era and we can, like always, learn from the lessons of the past. I now can't wait to get back to doing what I love, representing the people of our island. I hope to see you all soon."
Doctors say that while there is no cure for Guillain-Barré syndrome the vast majority of patients with the condition have one major episode in their lifetime and that the condition can be managed with little to no impact on a persons life. The Queens blood will be tested regularly, most patients with the syndrome are tested twice a year and levels of white blood cells monitored to ensure they are within safe levels. Experts say only 1 in 8 patients ever experience another attack and in those case it is usually less severe. The condition is not genetic so there is no risk of the Queen's children being infected. One leading doctor stated, "Our island need not worry that we will see other cases. This is the first case I've ever seen in my career and statistically it should be the last. Her Majesty has sadly been very unlucky but she has had wonderful care by the best professionals we have here. I think we've a great number of years left to celebrate her reign."
Dr. Hans Marliebe, Voice of the Gorgons for the Central Island District, is one of three leading religious figures for the Gorgonist faith and has urged Temples to mark the news across the nation tomorrow. "In the beginnings of our history of an island our people feared any illness, it was a death sentence and life here was short. Thanks to the skill, dedication and courage of medical professionals seeking out wisdom from the Gorgons we can today ensure thats not the case. In the past they called our homeland the Isle of Doom. Today we have had excellent news that our land have conquered another disease. Lets rejoice, give thanks and enjoy our weekly worship as we celebrate that our Keeper of the Triform, Queen Elisabeth, returns to us ready to once more guide us on the path to a better world." Some Temples have already announced that their weekly collection of donations of foods and money will be donated to good causes connected to medical care as a way of giving thanks.
The Queen has yet to announce what her first royal duty will be on her return however Princess Constance has confirmed her final duty as a kind of "caretaker" of the nation will be to officially re-open schools after their summer break. The 19 year old Princess will for the first time in her life not be attending a school having graduated in the summer. Traditionally the College of the Three opens the first Friday in September for new students training to be Priests and no other school in the Kingdom is supposed to begin classes until this has been opened. Princess Constance will give a speech welcoming new students and present each with a traditional quill and ink well as she welcomes the class of 122 to the College. The Princess has yet to confirm what she will be doing now she has completed compulsory education. Traditionally royal women have completed a period of service within a caring profession while males complete military service, normally within the Guards Regiment. Crown Prince Theodor has confirmed he will return to the regiment in the new year once his mother is fully returned.