Queen to return to public engagements next week

THE Queen will resume her ­official public engagements next week following a bout of ­gastroenteritis, Buckingham Palace said last night.

She will attend the annual Westminster Abbey service marking Commonwealth Day on Monday, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh.

A palace spokesman said it was “business as usual” for the Queen, who suspended her ­engagements this week, which included a trip to Rome, following the illness.

The Queen, 86, was struck down last Friday by the stomach bug, which commonly causes symptoms of vomiting and ­repeated episodes of diarrhoea.

She stayed overnight on Sunday at the private King Edward VII’s Hospital in central London.She was assessed by doctors, and was discharged on Monday.

Concerns were raised about the Queen’s general well-being as it was the first time she had been admitted to hospital in ­almost ten years. But she left the hospital looking well and ­cheerful.

During Monday’s service, entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson will give a speech and there will be performances by soul singer Beverley Knight and indie-rock favourites the Noisettes.

The Queen’s other engagements include a visit to Tech City in London’s east end to tour a number of companies on Wednesday. The following day she will attend a service at Guards’ Chapel, also in London.