Queen Mother: Medical history

Health scare: Leaving hospital in 1998

The Queen Mother has been in robust health for much of her long life.

But even with the best medical care money can buy, no one can escape the rigours of great old age.

Concern has mounted for the Queen Mother's well being, after two hip replacement operations and a series of health scares in recent years.

The elderly Royal often now walks with the aid of two sticks, her leg is often heavily bandaged and she occasionally uses a wheelchair or even a golf buggy to get around.

A Royal health history:

August 2001: Admitted to hospital for blood transfusion after being diagnosed with anaemia.

July 2001: Suffers mild heat exhaustion in summer heatwave.

November 2000 : Fractures collar bone after fall at her London home.

January 1999: Nose cauterised at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, after series of nose bleeds.

A long life: With Prince Charles in 1948

January 1998: Fell and fractured her left hip, and underwent second hip replacement at King Edward VII Hospital.

November 1995: Underwent right hip replacement, also at King Edward VII Hospital.

July 1995: Admitted to King Edward VII Hospital for operation to remove cataract from left eye.

August 1994: Sustained leg injury, thought to be a cut, on right leg which later ulcerated.

January 1994: Confined to Sandringham House with a chest infection.

June 1993: Missed Ascot because of mild flu.

May 1993: Admitted to hospital in Aberdeen for three nights for an operation to remove a piece of salmon obstructing her throat.

May 1992: Missed Cheltenham Festival races for first time in memory, suffering from a cold.

November 1986: Spent five days in King Edward VII Hospital with a leg injury which refused to heal.

No-one can escape rigours of old age

August 1986: Admitted to the Royal Aberdeenshire Infirmary after suffering a muscular spasm in the throat after eating trout.

August 1984: After three days of hospital tests, declared by doctors to be in "very good health".

November 1982: Admitted overnight to King Edward VII Hospital to have a fish bone removed from her throat.

June 1981: Stumbled on a step at Royal Ascot and hurt her shin, causing a small infected ulcer.

December 1966: Underwent an abdominal operation at King Edward VII Hospital. Surgery was performed to relieve a partial obstruction.

December 1965: Mild attack of laryngitis following flu.

February 1964: Admitted to King Edward VII Hospital for Officers in Marylebone, central London, for emergency operation for appendicitis. Forced to cancel planned visit to Canada, and tour of New Zealand and Australia.

September 1962: Broke a bone in her left foot when she stumbled while at Birkhall on the Balmoral estate in Scotland.

June 1961: Cracked a small bone in her foot while at Windsor Castle.

September 1942: Confined to bed for a week suffering from acute bronchitis.