Queen Elizabeth to continue royal duties

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will continue her royal duties today (07.06.13), despite her husband’s hospital admission.

Prince Philip, who is 92 on Monday (10.06.13), is due to have an exploratory operation on his abdomen after being admitted to The London Clinic last night (06.06.13), but the 87-year-old monarch will officially open the BBC’s rebuilt Broadcasting House in central London later today.

The monarch had been due to visit the corporation’s £1 billion headquarters with the Duke of Edinburgh, but she will now travel alone as he faces around two weeks – including his birthday – in hospital.

Elizabeth will be given a tour of the state-of-the-art broadcasting centre, where she is expected to meet personalities including Sir Bruce Forsyth and David Dimbleby.

The queen will also chat to journalist in the BBC’s newsroom and watch The Script perform in Radio 1’s Live Lounge.

It was announced last night that Philip will go under the knife ”following abdominal investigations”.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said: ”His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted to the London Clinic for an exploratory operation following abdominal investigations. He is expected to stay in hospital for up to two weeks.

”Further updates will be issued when appropriate.”

The duke had to pull out of a gala evening for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) at St James’ Palace at the last minute on Monday (03.06.13), but he recovered for Tuesday’s (04.06.13) service to mark the 60th anniversary of his wife’s coronation.