When was the Queen last in hospital and has she any known health problems?

The Queen's wellbeing is a concern for her loyal fans as news of her hospital stay worries many

Queen Elizabeth II
(Image credit: Jacob King-WPA Pool/Getty)

Queen Elizabeth II is back at the Palace after staying overnight at hospital, causing some concern to fans of the Royal Family. But this is only the fifth major hospital stay for then Queen in over four decades.


The Queen's recent stay in hospital had some fans concerned but she is showing no signs of slowing down and settling into old age.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 95, is Britain’s longest-reigning monarch in history, with next year’s Diamond Jubilee celebrating her 70th year on the throne.

Queen Elizabeth II

(Image credit: Geoff Pugh/WPA Pool/Getty)

Her Majesty humorously rejected the title of Oldie of the Year recently, insisting that you are only “as old as you feel.”

Despite this, is there cause for concern after her stay at the hospital? When was the Queen last sick and does she have any known health conditions?

When did the Queen last stay in hospital?

This week marked the Queen’s first overnight stay since 2013, when she was admitted to the King Edward VIII hospital to be treated for symptoms of gastroenteritis.

She was initially taken in for an assessment on 3 March, 2013 but ended up staying overnight.

The monarch, who was 86 years old at the time, missed a royal engagement in Swansea.

At the time, she was pictured leaving the hospital smiling and thanking staff before being driven to Buckingham Palace.

Following the stay, a further week of appearances was canceled as the Queen, “continued to recover following her recent illness."

This included a two-day trip to Rome and the Commonwealth Day Observance service, marking the first one she had missed in 20 years.

Does the Queen have any health issues?

The Queen does not have any known major medical conditions but has suffered from minor ailments over the years.

In January 2020, she pulled out of her annual visit to the Sandringham Women’s Institute because she had a cold.

Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth II

(Image credit: Phil Noble/WPA Pool/Getty)

In June 2018, she missed a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 200th anniversary of the Order of Michael and St George because she was feeling “under the weather”, Buckingham Palace announced at the time.

In December 2016, just before Christmas, both the Queen and her late husband, Prince Philip fell ill with heavy colds.

As a result, she was not well enough to attend their annual Christmas Day or New Year’s Day services at St Mary Magdalene church.

Jack Slater
Freelance writer

Jack Slater is not the Last Action Hero, but that's what comes up first when you Google him. Preferring a much more sedentary life, Jack gets his thrills by covering news, entertainment, celebrity, film and culture for woman&home, and other digital publications.

Having written for various print and online publications—ranging from national syndicates to niche magazines—Jack has written about nearly everything there is to write about, covering LGBTQ+ news, celebrity features, TV and film scoops, reviewing the latest theatre shows lighting up London’s West End and the most pressing of SEO based stories.