By Michael Holden
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain’s 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth spent a night in hospital for what Buckingham Palace termed ‘preliminary investigations’ but returned to Windsor Castle on Thursday and was in good spirits.
The world’s oldest and longest-reigning 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 in a statement.
A royal source said the queen had stayed in hospital for practical reasons and that her medical team had taken a cautious approach.
She returned to her desk for work on Thursday afternoon and was undertaking some light duties, the source said.
Elizabeth spent Tuesday night hosting a drinks reception at Windsor Castle 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 had appeared in good health then, smiling happily as she met the guests.
The head of state, who next year celebrates 70 years on the throne, is known for her robust health and the last time she is thought to have spent a night in hospital was in 2013 when she was suffering from symptoms of gastroenteritis.
She had a successful surgery to treat an eye cataract in 2018 and also had a knee operation in 2003.
Earlier this year, Prince Philip, her 99-year-old husband of more than seven decades, died at Windsor Castle.
(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
