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Sunday 3 March 2013

Queen Treated In Hospital Over Stomach Bug

The Queen has been taken to hospital "as a precaution" after suffering
symptoms of gastroenteritis.

Her Majesty, who is aged 86, is being assessed by doctors at the King
Edward VII Hospital in central London.

The monarch is in "good spirits" and is otherwise in "good health",
according to her spokesman.

She was driven to the hospital by private car at about 3pm and is
expected to remain at the medical facility for a couple of days.

The spokesman said: "This is a precautionary measure. She was not
taken into hospital immediately after feeling the symptoms.

"This is simply to enable doctors to better assess her."

The Queen was last in hospital in 2003 when she had a knee operation.

All official engagements planned for this week will be postponed or
cancelled, Buckingham Palace said.

Medical experts said she would probably be treated with a drip. It is
important to ensure patients are given combinations of sugar and salt
to help fluids be absorbed.

The Queen's sickness was first announced on Friday.

She had been due to attend a military celebration in Swansea on
Saturday for St David's Day celebrations, but was forced to cancel
because of the illness.

Instead, the monarch spent the day resting at Windsor Castle.

Before her admission to hospital she presented a female member of
staff an award for long service at Windsor.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were set to fly out to Rome for a
two-day visit this Wednesday, which will now not go ahead.

The Queen had been due to meet the Italian president Giorgio
Napolitano who said he sends his "best wishes for a speedy recovery".

Prime Minister David Cameron also wished the Queen well and said he
hoped she makes a speedy recovery, according to Downing Street.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen is being assessed at
the King Edward VII's Hospital, London, after experiencing symptoms of
gastroenteritis.

"As a precaution, all official engagements for this week will
regrettably be either postponed or cancelled."

Gastroenteritis is an infection of the stomach and bowel. The most
common symptoms are vomiting and repeated episodes of diarrhoea.

The two most common causes of gastroenteritis in adults in the UK are
norovirus and food poisoning.

The Queen undertook a number of engagements during the last week.

On Tuesday she met the Archbishop of Canterbury at Buckingham Palace,
on Wednesday she visited the Royal London Hospital, and a day later
she presented Olympic stars with honours during an investiture
ceremony.

Her Majesty has rarely missed a royal engagement due to ill health in
recent years.

She was last forced to pull out of an investiture ceremony in October
last year after suffering with a bad back.

She also missed a visit to the British Museum in October 2011 because of a cold.

The Duchess of Cambridge was treated at the King Edward VII hospital
last December for acute morning sickness.

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