Queen taken to hospital with stomach bug

All official engagements for this week will be either postponed or cancelled as a precaution, the Palace added. The Queen, who is 86, is expected to stay at the King Edward VII hospital in London for two days and is otherwise said to be in "good health and good spirits".u00a0

Queen Elizabeth II has always refused to fuss over a string of ailments and was last in hospital 10 years ago. Pic/Getty Images

A Royal visit to Rome planned for later this week will be cancelled or postponed, Buckingham Palace confirmed. The Queen started to feel unwell after lunch and was admitted to hospital late in the afternoon.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The Queen is being assessed at the King Edward VII's Hospital, London, after experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis. As a precaution, all official engagements for this week will regrettably be either postponed or cancelled."

The Queen has rarely taken time off due to illness during her six decades as monarch. The Queen was last in hospital 10 years ago.u00a0