Queen Elizabeth in good spirits after hospital stay

LONDON: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, 95, spent a night in hospital for the first time in years for what Buckingham Palace termed “preliminary investigations”, but was in good spirits and back at work at Windsor Castle.

The world’s oldest and longestreigning monarch cancelled an official trip to Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

The palace said the queen had been told to rest by her medical staff, and that her ailment was not related to Covid-19.

“Following medical advice to rest for a few days, the queen attended hospital on Wednesday afternoon for some preliminary investigations, returning to Windsor Castle at lunchtime today, and remains in good spirits,” the palace said late on Thursday.

The Palace gave no details on what had prompted the medical attention.

A royal source said the queen had stayed at the King Edward VII hospital in central London for practical reasons and that her medical team had taken a cautious approach.

Queen Elizabeth, who is queen of 15 other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand, returned to her desk for work on Thursday afternoon, the source said.

Gillian Keegan, a junior health minister, said it was concerning to hear that the queen had stayed a night in hospital.

“She’s just so fantastic and I hope that she’s feeling better today,” Ms Keegan said.

Queen Elizabeth, who acceded to the throne as Britain was shedding its imperial power, spent Tuesday night hosting a drinks reception at Windsor for billionaire business leaders including Bill Gates after Prime Minister Boris Johnson convened a green investment conference.

Along with her son Prince Charles, 72, and grandson Prince William, 39, she greeted guests including US climate envoy John Kerry without masks.