Queen spends night in hospital
THE Queen spent a night in hospital for tests after being forced to cancel a visit to Northern Ireland this week, Buckingham Palace said.
“Following medical advice to rest for a few days, the Queen attended hospital on Wednesday afternoon for preliminary investigations, returning to Windsor Castle at lunchtime Thursday, and remains in good spirits,” a statement said.
News agencies said the trip to hospital had been kept under wraps because it was expected to be a short stay, and also to protect the 95year-old monarch’s privacy.
The overnight stay was for “practical reasons”, it added.
The palace made the announcement
after The Sun newspaper broke the news.
The tabloid said it was decided she should stay at the private King Edward VII’s Hospital in central London because it was too late to make the 42km trip back to Windsor.
She has previously been treated at the exclusive clinic, which is known for treating the royal family, including in 2013 for gastroenteritis, when she also stayed for one night.
The head of state, who has been on the throne since 1952 and is Britain’s longest-serving monarch, was said to be back at her desk on Thursday afternoon, undertaking light duties.
She had been due to attend an ecumenical service in the border town of Armagh on Thursday to mark the 100th centenary of the creation of Northern Ireland.
The palace said on Wednesday she had “reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days”.
The decision was not related to the coronavirus.