Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has been hospitalized over an apparent
stomach infection that has ailed her for days, Buckingham Palace said
Sunday. The monarch will have to cancel a visit to Rome and other
engagements as she recovers.
The palace said in a statement that the 86-year-old
queen was experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis. She is being
examined at London's King Edward VII hospital, and "as a precaution, all
official engagements for this week will regrettably be either postponed
or cancelled," the palace said.
The symptoms of gastroenteritis - vomiting and
diarrhea - are generally mild and usually pass after one or two days,
but they can be more severe in older or otherwise more vulnerable
people.
Officials had said on Friday that Elizabeth was
dealing with a stomach bug. She had to cancel a visit Swansea, Wales, on
Saturday to present leeks - a national symbol - to soldiers of the
Royal Welsh Regiment in honor of Wales' national day, St. David's Day.
Elizabeth, who celebrated 60 years on the throne
last year, rarely misses engagements due to ill health. About five
months ago, she cancelled an engagement due to a bad back. She had been
due to visit Rome on Wednesday and Thursday.
Ingrid Seward, the editor of the British magazine
Majesty, said that the queen "probably agreed to be hospitalized in
order to get better quickly."
"Everybody will want to be wishing her a speedy recovery," she told Sky News television.
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