Queen spends night in hospital
LONDON: Britain’s 95yearold Queen Elizabeth spent a night in hospital for the first time in years for what royal officials termed ‘‘preliminary investigations’’, but was in good spirits and back at work at her Windsor Castle home yesterday.
The world’s oldest and longestreigning monarch earlier cancelled an official trip to Northern Ireland. The palace said the Queen had been told to rest by her medical staff, and that her ailment was not related to Covid19.
‘‘Following medical advice to rest for a few days, the Queen attended hospital on Wednesday afternoon [Thursday morning NZT] for some preliminary investigations,’’ the palace said in a statement yesterday, adding that she had returned to Windsor Castle and remained ‘‘in good spirits’’.
A royal source said the Queen had stayed at the King Edward VII Hospital in central London for practical reasons and her medical team had taken a cautious approach.
The Queen returned to her desk for work yesterday and was undertaking some light duties, the source said.
Earlier this week she hosted a drinks reception for billionaire business leaders such as Bill Gates after Prime Minister Boris Johnson convened a green investment conference ahead of the COP26 climate summit.
The Queen, along with Prince Charles and grandson Prince
William, greeted guests including US climate envoy John Kerry without masks.
The head of state, who next year celebrates 70 years on the throne, is known for her robust health. The last time she is thought to have spent a night in hospital was in 2013, when she was suffering from symptoms of gastroenteritis.
This month, she was seen using a walking stick in public for the first time, apart from after her knee operation.
Her long reign has seen some turbulent times and the last couple of years have been particularly difficult for her family and for the Queen personally.
Not only has she lost her husband, who she described as her ‘‘strength and stay’’, but her second son Prince Andrew has had to quit royal duties over his links to the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sex crimes.
Her next major engagement is at the end of the month when she is due to welcome world leaders at the opening of the United Nations climate change summit in Glasgow. — Reuters