Emma Simpson reports from Sandringham on the Queen Mother's condition

The 98-year-old is recovering at Sandringham after surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk.

Doctors cauterised her nose under local anaesthetic.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the Queen Mother was now "fine" and "in good health".

"She has had a couple of nose bleeds over the last few weeks and had another today," said the spokesman.

'Nothing serious'

"It was nothing serious - she was treated as an out-patient."

The Queen Mother, accompanied by a lady-in-waiting, was driven to hospital at about 1600GMT on Sunday and was back with other members of the Royal Family by 1800GMT.

She has undergone two hip replacement operations - in 1995 and 1998 - but her health has been remarkably good considering her age.

Fish bone incident

There have been intermittent concerns over the Queen Mother's health since May 1993 when a fish bone lodged in her throat while staying at Balmoral.

She had surgery under general anaesthetic to remove it at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where she spent several days.

Over recent years, she has suffered ulcers on her left leg and problems with her hips, which made walking difficult.

In July 1995 she had a successful operation at London's King Edward VII Hospital to remove a cataract from her left eye.