Queen Mother breaks hip

The Queen Mother was taken to hospital yesterday after fracturing her left hip in a fall at Sandringham. The 97-year-old royal was initially admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, near the Queen's Norfolk estate, where the accident happened.

She was later transferred to the King Edward VII hospital in London, where she is now being cared for. The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret were at Sandringham, and other members of the Royal Family have been informed of the accident.

A statement from the palace said: "Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother had a fall at Sandringham this afternoon and suffered a fracture of the left hip. The Queen Mother was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn and was subsequently transferred to the King Edward VII Hospital in London.

A palace spokeswoman said: "Obviously, if you're 97 years old, even if you break your fingernail, it's unpleasant.

"But this is more serious than that."