Queen Elizabeth back at desk after first night in hospital in years
![Queen Elizabeth back at desk after first night in hospital in years](https://92newshd.tv/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/22144207_4.webp)
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain's Queen Elizabeth, 95, was back at her desk at Windsor Castle on Friday after she spent a night in hospital for the first time in years for what Buckingham Palace termed "preliminary investigations".
The world's oldest and longest-reigning monarch stayed in hospital overnight on Wednesday but returned to Windsor Castle to the west of London the following day, with officials saying she was in good spirits and back at work.
"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.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent his best wishes and said the monarch was back at her desk.
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.
Elizabeth, who is queen of 15 other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand, returned to her desk for work on Thursday afternoon and was undertaking some light duties, the source said.
A quiet and uncomplaining dedication to duty, even in old age, has earned her widespread respect in Britain and abroad, even from republicans who are eager for the monarchy to be abolished.
BILLIONAIRES' DRINKS
Elizabeth 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 ahead of the COP26 climate summit.
The queen, wearing a teal skirt and jacket with pearls, was photographed beside Johnson, smiling and chatting with guests.
She had a successful surgery to treat an eye cataract in 2018 and a knee operation in 2003, but royal officials are loathe to discuss health issues in general.
That has not stopped her from carrying out her official engagements, although her age has meant she has handed more duties to Charles and other members of the royal family.
Not only has she lost her husband, who she described as her "strength and stay", but her second son Prince Andrew has quit royal duties over his links to US financier Jeffrey Epstein, a registered sex offender who killed himself in a Manhattan jail in 2019.
Her grandson Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan have also stepped away from royal duties to move to Los Angeles from where they delivered some barbed attacks on Buckingham Palace.
Elizabeth's next major engagement is at the end of the month when she is due to welcome world leaders at the opening of COP26 in Glasgow.