EASY DOES IT, YOUR MAJESTY

The queen has been forced to take a break from her gruelling schedule after a stint in hospital. Now other royals are expected to step up

- NICI DE WET & MAXINE PETERS

SHE has more stamina than many people half her age, going about her business with the trademark steely resolve that’s seen her become the world’s longest-reigning monarch.

But, at 95, Queen Elizabeth is no spring chicken and sometimes she and the rest of the planet are forced to acknowledge that she’s indeed an elderly woman.

Since the death of her husband, Prince Philip, in April and the easing of lockdown measures in the UK, Her Majesty has thrown herself into her royal duties with renewed vigour. Yet it appears the pace has caught up with her.

She was recently admitted to London’s King Edward VII hospital, the first time she’s been hospitalised since 2013 when she was treated for a tummy bug.

Thankfully her recent visit wasn’t because of anything serious – more a check-up by her doctors who’d been concerned about her punishing pace.

“Following medical advice to rest for a few days, the queen attended hospital on Wednesday afternoon for some preliminary investigations,” Buckingham Palace said.

She stayed overnight then returned to Windsor Castle. But she was forced to cancel her much-anticipated trip to Northern Ireland – her first visit since a 2016 tour with the Duke of Edinburgh – to mark the 100th anniversary of the partition of the island.

The palace said she was “disappointed” but was “looking forward to visiting in the future”.

The queen also missed her church session at Windsor’s All Saints Chapel after her hospital stay and is likely to have received private prayers with a chaplain at the castle.