Fears grew on Thursday for Queen Elizabeth II after Buckingham Palace said her doctors were “concerned” for her health and recommended that she remained under medical supervision.
Since last October, the 96-year-old Head of State – Britain’s longest-serving monarch – has been plagued by health issues that have made walking and standing difficult for her.
She cancelled a meeting with her senior political advisors on Wednesday after being told to rest.
The day before, she met with outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson at her Scottish Highlands retreat, Balmoral, and named his successor, Liz Truss.
“Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral,” the palace added.
The palace statement about the queen’s health is highly unusual and comes after she has looked visibly frailer in recent months, and a succession of withdrawals from public engagements.
She has taken to walking with the help of a stick and was also seen earlier this year at the Chelsea Flower Show touring the site in a motorised buggy.
In February, she was laid low by a bout of COVID-19, which she admitted afterwards had left her “exhausted”.
