12/12/2003

Surgery on Queen's knee a 'success'

An operation to remove torn cartilage from the Queen's left knee has been described as a "success".

A number of "benign skin lesions" were also removed from the Queen's face during this morning's surgery at the King Edward VII Hospital in London.

The operation on the Queen's knee, follows a similar one on her right knee carried out in January this year.

The palace said that the Queen, 77, is expected to leave hospital at the weekend, and she should be "fully active" again within a few weeks.

Her Majesty is expected to spend Christmas with her family at Sandringham as usual.

Following surgery on her right knee earlier this year, doctors decided that surgery was also required on her left knee. But the operation was deferred to minimise disruption to the Queen's commitments, and to enable her to continue her recovery at Sandringham during the traditionally quiet period in the royal schedule over Christmas and New Year period.

Today's planned investiture at Buckingham Palace, a knighthood for the Rolling Stones's Mick Jagger will be held as scheduled by Prince Charles in the Queen's absence.

The 60-year-old singer had asked for his ennoblement ceremony to be delayed from earlier this week as it would have clashed with an MBE awarded to England rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson.

As a consequence of today's surgery, the Queen's attendance at two planned public engagements has had to cancelled.

A rededication ceremony of HMS Invincible in Portsmouth will go ahead in her absence with the Duke of York attending the event.

The elderly royal's remaining official commitments next week, including receiving credentials from two new ambassadors, will be postponed or cancelled.

(SP)

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