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CNN Live At Daybreak

Queen Mother Taken Ill

Aired August 01, 2001 - 07:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: It's been a tough week for the Queen Mum. She is 100 years old. She is in fact going to be turning 101 this weekend, but she has been hospitalized this morning.

So we're going to go right to the Central London Hospital, where she is right now to ITN reporter Ben Scotchbrook.

Ben, what do you know about the Queen's condition?

BEN SCOTCHBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what I can tell you for definite is that the Queen Mother arrived here at four minutes past 11:00 our time this morning. And I have to say - I am no medical expert - but if I am walking under my own steam when I am nearly 101, I won't be too worried about my health.

She arrived, got our of her black Bentley - which left Clarence House just a few moments before - and using two sticks made her way under her own steam, not assisted, up the steps, chatting with members of the hospital staff and went into the hospital.

Now, it has been reported here in London this morning that she is here for a blood transfusion. Now, I have to say that Clarence House - that is her Majesty's official residence here in London - officials at Clarence House are refusing to comment on that. And other medical experts are saying that that is perhaps unlikely.

Now, what I can tell you for definite, though, is perhaps if I read you the statement issued by Clarence House this morning, that will clear up a few bits of confusion. They say that Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, has been diagnosed as suffering from anemia and is being admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital 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.

So she is here for treatment. When I spoke to Clarence House to ask how long she might be here for, they said that depends on the treatment. But she's clearly quite keen to be out of here in a few days' time for her birthday - 101st birthday this Saturday.

Now, there is an annual tradition, where Her Majesty comes to the gates of Clarence House joined by other members of the Royal Family, the Queen, Prince Charles, and receive a royal march past - the band goes past playing "Happy Birthday." And it is obviously a very happy occasion.

And I think that there's a message to be taken from here - the Queen Mother didn't arrive in an ambulance. She came here under her own steam. She is keen for the world to know that she is not that unwell. And she is determined to be there to celebrate her own birthday this Saturday.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Ben. Hopefully we'll see some of those test results later today to make sure that she is doing just fine.

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