Queen Cancels Westminster Abbey Visit

The Queen will no longer attend today's Commonwealth service as she recovers from gastroenteritis, Buckingham Palace says.

She had been due to attend the Commonwealth Day Observance at London's Westminster Abbey that will see High Commissioners from across the globe in the congregation, and a keynote address from Sir Richard Branson.

The Duke of Edinburgh will now be the only senior royal representative, but the Palace said the Queen would attend an evening reception where she will sign the new Commonwealth charter.

The monarch spent 24 hours in hospital last week being treated for the illness, which leaves sufferers with vomiting and diarrhoea.

Buckingham Palace had said on Friday that the Queen would attend the service and it was "business as usual".

The 86-year-old was struck down by the stomach bug just over a week ago and spent last Sunday night at the private King Edward VII's Hospital in central London before being discharged on Monday.

Concerns were raised about the Queen's general wellbeing as it was the first time she had been admitted to hospital in almost 10 years.

But she left the hospital looking well and cheerful.

Her engagements for last week were cancelled, including a brief visit to Rome to meet Italy's president.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "This time last week she was in hospital, but she's in great spirits and apart from this is in good health and will be going to the reception in the evening.

"It's just the tail end of the symptoms, her condition has not worsened at all."

The Palace added: "The Queen hopes to undertake some of her official engagements planned for the rest of this week."