Queen Mother in hospital

LONDON, England -- Britain's Queen Mother is spending the night in hospital -- just days before her 101st birthday.

The Queen Mother, widow of King George VI, is suffering from anaemia, a spokesman at her official residence, Clarence House, announced.

She received a blood transfusion on Wednesday afternoon and it was announced she would stay in hospital overnight after being admitted earlier in the day.

"The blood transfusion is over and has been a success," a royal official said late on Wednesday. "This is not a surprising treatment for anaemia."

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The Queen Mother was able to walk unaided and climbed three steps into the King Edward VII Hospital in central London.

A smiling Queen Mother was accompanied into the hospital by hospital officials and a female aide.

At the top of the steps she turned to look at waiting reporters and photographers and gave them a smile before entering the building.

On Tuesday the Queen Mum was said to be suffering from heat exhaustion and had pulled out of a public engagement planned for later on Wednesday.

However, she is still hoping to be home in time to celebrate her 101st birthday on Saturday.

A Clarence House statement said: "Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother has been diagnosed as suffering from anaemia and is being admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital (Sister Agnes) for treatment.

"However, the Queen Mother is hopeful of being able to undertake her morning birthday appearances outside Clarence House as usual on Saturday August 4."

One in six women over the age of 85 suffer from anaemia, and while the condition itself is easily treatable, it can mask more serious problems.

A fifth of people over 65 who are diagnosed with Iron Deficiency Anaemia -- the most common form of the condition -- are also found to have a "serious and significant" abnormality in the intestinal gut -- ranging from gastric ulcers to bowel cancer.

Falling ill with anaemia is often the first sign that something else is seriously wrong in older patients.

Iron Deficiency Anaemia is caused by either inadequate intake or poor absorption of iron, which leads to a fall in red blood cells and lack of oxygen in the bloodstream.

Dr David Black, a consultant geriatrician, told the Press Association: "Older people tend to feel very tired and weak.

"While younger people can be severely anaemic but not really have any symptoms, older people have less reserves in their muscles and brains and other organs, so they will feel the effects much more."

He added: "Anaemia is a sign that the patient needs investigation as there may be a very serious, underlying problem."

The Queen Mother, who has bounced back from several health problems in recent years, has continued to keep public engagements and was attending more than 100 diary dates a year well into her 90s.

Now she manages about 25 and despite having had two hip replacements and occasionally suffering from leg ulcers, she often scorns the use of walking sticks and a "Queen Mother- mobile" golf cart.