Queen ‘back at desk' as she recovers from hospital visit

The Queen has returned home after spending a night in a private hospital in central London, and is reported to be “in good spirits”. She was admitted for preliminary checks after “reluctantly” cancelling a trip to Northern Ireland on medical advice. She returned to Windsor Castle at lunchtime on Thursday, and carried out light duties in the afternoon.

- MATT MATHERS

Prime minister Boris Johnson has sent his best wishes to the monarch as she continues to rest at home following her overnight stay.

Speaking to reporters on a visit to a vaccine centre at the Little Venice sports centre in west London, Mr Johnson said: “I think everybody sends Her Majesty our very, very best wishes. And certainly we have from the government. But I’m given to understand that actually Her Majesty is characteristically back at her desk at Windsor as we speak. But we send her every possible good wish.”

A Downing Street spokesperson declined to say whether Mr Johnson had held his weekly audience with the 95-year-old monarch.