Sick Queen cancels St David's date (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Sick Queen cancels St David's date

5:29am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013

The Queen will spend the day resting after suffering symptoms of gastroenteritis, Buckingham Palace said.

She was due to attend a military celebration in Wales on Saturday during the city's St David's Day celebrations, but has been forced to cancel her planned engagements because of the sickness.

She will instead spend the weekend at Windsor, a palace spokeswoman said.

The Queen was expected to travel through Swansea to the Guildhall, where she would present St David's Day leeks to the 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh, of which she is Colonel-in-Chief. She was then due to attend a reception with members of the battalion and their families, before proceeding to the George Hall for lunch.

A palace spokeswoman said: "The Queen will no longer visit Swansea as she is experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis.

"She will be assessed in the coming days. Her Majesty is currently spending the weekend at Windsor, as usual."

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are due to fly out to Rome for a two-day visit next week, which could now be in doubt.

A palace spokesman said the visit was still due to take place, but a decision would be made after she was assessed.

The Queen, who is 86, has undertaken a number of engagements during the last week. On Tuesday she met the Archbishop of Canterbury at Buckingham Palace, and on Thursday she presented a host of Olympic stars with honours during an investiture ceremony.

Swansea Council said the ceremony would go ahead today as planned with the Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, Byron Lewis.