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Subscribe to RSSFor the first time in ten years, Britain's 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth is in the hospital, but in good spirits. NBC's Annabel Roberts reports.
LONDON -- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II was admitted to hospital after experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis, Buckingham Palace said Sunday.
All her official engagements for this week will be either postponed or canceled as a precaution, the palace said in a statement.
The queen, who celebrated 60 years on the throne last year, had already canceled her weekend engagements because she had been feeling unwell.
An unidentified palace spokesman told ITV News the 86-year-old was in "good spirits" and "good health" despite her illness.
"This is a precautionary measure," the spokesman said. "She was not taken into hospital immediately after feeling the symptoms. This is simply to enable doctors to better assess her."
She was being treated at the King Edward VII Hospital in London, a private facility.
Gastroenteritis is a stomach illness most often caused by a virus or food poisoning.
An historic first as Queen Elizabeth attends a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street as part of her diamond jubilee celebrations. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
BBC correspondent Peter Hunt reported she would be kept there for observation for about two days.
Her canceled duties include a planned trip to Italy where she was due to be the guest of President Giorgio Napolitano on Wednesday.
Early last week, she met the Archbishop of Canterbury at Buckingham Palace, and on Thursday she presented a host of British Olympic stars with honors at a ceremony.
86-year old Queen Elizabeth II has been hospitalized with symptoms of a stomach infection. NBC's Annabel Roberts reports.
This story was originally published on Sun Mar 3, 2013 11:02 AM EST
Leave a Comment:
I don't love the queen or her husband. Not by a long shot. But I'm praying for her to make a complete recovery and live past 120 so Charles never gets to be king.
Do you know them well? I'm certain they will be devastated by the news of your dislike for them.
I don't love the queen. Nor I care whether they will be devastated to know I don't. But I do wish she gets well so that nbc doesn't continue to print such @!$%#ty news in our face on first page.
Im an american. i do not give a single sh.t about her or the "royal" family.
Sounds like you do care, or else you wouldn't have posted.
i was curious about the comments.why people bow down and worship her "highness" is just comical.no man or woman deserves the adulation she gets.no man, no woman,no child.no one is better than another.most of these comments are hollow words for a person theyve never met.a person who could care less if we live or die.you owe her or anyone else nothing.respect is earned.
Prince Charles - I'm gonna be King! I'm gonna be King!
Never a good thing for someone of her age. Here's hoping she recovers quickly.
Long live the Queen!
Viva the Queen and you too because you have a gentle heart. The unkind comments made by my fellow Americans are not to be heard, as they are made by not good people, and a disgrace to America.
"she had been feeling unless."? what is that supposed to mean? Do you not even read, what you write, Alastair Jamieson? Your readers deserve better quality from a "professional" journalist.
She had been feeling unwell.
Tom-1280495, how does it feel to be perfect in every way, flawless, having never made a mistake in your entire existence?
Has anyone checked Prince Charles' chemical and drug purchases lately? He has already stated he wishes he had more time to rule Britain.
God save the Queen!
She ain't no human being!
There is no future
In England's dreaming!
Please provide us with the "chemical and drug purchases" made by the POW. You obviously have some inside info.
Defender of the Faith.
(laughs)
better be careful, the last one that said that they gave a fancy name, in the Church of England, then made them walk around wearing a funny hat and fancy walking stick.
It is food poisoning which is a true meaning. The causes can be intentinoally or unintentionally. Cook your own food or monitor employees who prepare your food . . . , such as McDonald noticeing from hidden camera one of its employees storming a bag of lettuce on the ground with his feet on his sneakers.
Pray that the Queen has God's speed recovery.
Do you think the Queen got food poisoning from Micky D's? Doesn't it occur to you that her food is already carefully prepared?
No more horsemeat burritos please.
Maybe Queen Elizabeth should consider resigning like the Pope did. She deserves a long rest from being on the throne for over 60 years. I think the British are ready for a change.
In nearly a thousand years, there has been only one royal abdication that could be considered really voluntary (Edward VIII). It isn't the tradition for British monarchs to retire. In fact, there is no provision in law for abdication. Instead, as was the case with Edward VIII, Parliament and the other countries of the realm must each approve legislation altering the succession.
It hasn't been the tradition of Popes to retire, either. Not that I'm suggesting she should.
Majority of Brits think otherwise.
Her reputation has had its ups and downs, especially in these drama seeking Times where impact seems to hold sway not reality - as any other individual in the Public Eye is aware, particularly Monarchs. However, she is a very astute Lady, and she has steered the Monarchy through one of the most defining moments in its History - the last half of the 20th Century - certainly since her ancestor Elizabeth I changed the face of England in her time in the 16th Century.
I doubt she will ever abdicate, she is far too traditional to do that. For sure, there is no way she will at least until she gets past the time where she will be England's longest lived Monarch (that's in 2015) - but even then .... no .... she will stay until she dies, she is far too traditional to do otherwise.
Besides, most Brits would hope to skip Charles and go directly to William.
Long Live the Queen! Long Live the Queen!
She is a truly magnificent person, in the tradition of her mother and of her father, King George VI, who stood by their loyal subjects during Britain's darkest hour. Unfortunately, her son Charles follows in the ways of his worthless uncle, the former King Edward VIII who abdicated to serve his lusts rather than his people. May Her Royal Majesty Elizabeth II's radiant reign go on forever, or at least until Charles is no more.
Just by chance were Charlie and Camilla at dinner that evening?
HA! That's Camilla's a killer.
Best wishes to Elizabeth. May she reign for decades to come.
You know she is 86 years old, right?
I do hope the Queen recovers. Many changes in how the Monarchy is directly involved in the actual politics and other things such as compensation and how far the Royal Family "extends" haven't all come from Parliament. Some of the limitations and many of the image changes have come from her. And quite frankly I don't think the world is ready for Charles to sit on the throne....I don't think it ever will be as he has not mastered the Queen's interpersonal skills as a diplomat. William will be much better! He had his grandmother's and mother's ability to interact and reach people. Something that Charles will never have.
Paul, I suspect Charles will do better than many people fear. I think he's sharper than most folks realize. He was quite ahead of the popular curve on environmental matters. And so long as he is more astute than his dad, he should be OK.
For sure Charles is rather - shall we say - abrasive - at times :)
That's more his external appearance than reality. He will be a "Neutral" Monarch, he will just keep it ticking over, and I doubt he will be noted as anything out of the ordinary for a Monarch. He is too astute to make a Pigs Ear of it though :)
William? Now there is a different Ball Game. I am convinced he will reshape the Monarchy as a Modern Royal Family. His Grandmother had to concentrate on "saving" the Monarchy in the midst of Massive Global Change in the World, and did a good job. William will set it a new path and redefine the Monarchy in a similar way that Elizabeth I redefined it in her Times, in the 16th Century.
Bottom line though .... the Monarchy is definitely in safe hands with William & Kate ..... Fate dished up a good Hand with those two, right time, right place, the right people to carry forward Elizabeth II's efforts and finally complete the re-defining of the role of a Monarch in modern times.
Seems the old girl will spend a long time on her other throne. Hope she makes it. Britain won't want Charlie and his bimbo babe on the throne.
And somewhere in Australia, a new morning DJ says to his/her partner, "Shall we try giving the old bird a call in the hospital? Maybe pretend to be Mr and Mrs Mandela?" And unfortunately, the partner replies, "Bloody stupid idea, that. Could have horrible unforeseeable consequences. Oh, OK, what the heck."
And Prince Charles is overheard talking to Camila...Damn! Missed again!
No - gastroenteritis is not food poisoning. I had it a number of years ago, and I don't wish it on anybody. Nothing stays in your body, vomiting, diarhea, the works...
I am an American, and, of course, we don't have royalty. But, if I were to have a Queen, I think she would be the Queen to have. I have always liked her. She has been a very good influence for England. She has seen good times and bad, and come through it all quite well.
Here's to wishing her a speedy and complete recovery, good health, and many more years.
Get well soon, Your Majesty.
God speed and God bless.
Uh-oh! Someone at the palace has poopy hands.
I wish her well.
England needs to be rid of the monarchy.It is archaic and costly for the English people.
The British people don't seem to agree. Some day they might but it isn't as if you will have any say in the matter.
A lof of British do agree, actually.
And the President (Barry) spent more playing golf with Tiger Woods then 271 people not able to work for a day because of sequester. Go OBUMER. I like the queen better then what we have.
Costly?? roflmao.... don't know much about Royal Finance do you?
The finance side of The Royal Family was all sorted out when George III went Bankrupt. He swapped the Royal Estates for an annual salary in perpetuity for him and his successors. That was the worst deal in History from the perspective of Royalty.
Currently the Crown Estate is worth £8Billion, and pumps a minimum of £200m in excess profit into The Treasury. The remainder funds one of the largest Charity and Entrepreneurial Organisation's on the Planet. In return, it gives The Royal Family £50 million a year stipend, all-up (covering dozens in the Royal Family).
Sounds a good deal to me ..... take a peak :)
http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/
What government isn't costly? Indeed, the monarchy is traditional, but it isn't archaic for it still serves a purpose. It troubles me how cruel people are and just down right ignorant they are regarding other countries and their leaders. The Queen at her age has done more in a day than many of you will do in a lifetime!!! Perhaps some of you should take the time and read about her life or if reading is not your strong suit, look at the various dvds about her life. She is a remarkable woman from what she did during WWII as a young woman to her involvement with a host of charities today. She is a classy, dignified lady. I think people are not used to seeing those in the public eye act as professional and have the standards as she does. Instead we have become accustomed to our leaders behaving like they are our buddies and because of this can somehow better relate to us and lead us. I have gone to England twice and yes, I am an Anglophile. I absolutely love their country and their traditions. I was there last year for Veteran's Day. No big sales on washers and dryers, but they had a parade and celebration that truly honored their vets. And yes, the Queen participated in the celebration and honored her vets. Long live the Queen!!!!
God save the Queen...
Why?
Please no crank calls this time.
So does this mean she won't be on Downton Abbey?
I hope those loser Aussie DJs don't play any more stupid pranks, after they got their jobs back.
Best wishes to Her Magesty, and a speedy recovery.
God be with Her and the Royal Family.
God save the queen
'Cause tourists are money
And our figurehead
Is not what she seems
And Obama is?
Preggers? Or sympathetic pains?