Princess Margaret leaves hospital

Princess Margaret was helped down the hospital steps

Princess Margaret has left hospital in London after a 10-day stay for treatment following a suspected stroke.

She was admitted to the private King Edward VII hospital after suffering a severe loss of appetite.

The Queen's sister was taken ill just before Christmas at Sandringham, the Queen's estate in Norfolk.

Since going in to hospital, Princess Margaret, who is 70, is said to have made an "enormous" improvement and is eating small meals.

She smiled at well-wishers as she left the hospital, before being driven to her home at Kensington Palace.

She moved slowly towards a waiting burgundy Rolls Royce just after 1500 (GMT).

Return to Sandringham

She was helped into the back seat of the car into which a member of her staff had climbed moments before with a bouquet of yellow flowers.

Princess Margaret will go to Sandringham

A statement issued by Buckingham Palace on Saturday said: "She plans to return to Sandringham on Monday.

"Nursing care will be available to her at Sandringham so she can continue with rest and recuperation."

Princess Margaret had been ill for some time.

Three years ago she suffered a mild stroke while holidaying on the Caribbean island of Mustique and was flown back to Britain for treatment at the King Edward VII hospital.

In March 1999, again while in Mustique, the princess was left seriously debilitated after being scalded on her legs and feet in the bath.

It is now uncertain whether the princess will ever again have a public role.