# The Queen was in Hospital: 2021-10-21 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 21, 2021, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951 "2021-10-21T22:40:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/81 "2022-05-11T11:26:13Z")
One of the several behind the scenes TV documentaries a few years ago showed them as a sort of managed walkabout, where Palace officials picked out a mix of people to be introduced, who were told almost at the last minute, and HM was steered towards them with a quick briefing. The old-style formal receiving line seems to have been relaxed - but no doubt these things will change ad hoc. The weather’s very indifferent today, maybe that’ll affect who does what and where. Certainly most of the guests won’t get more than a glimpse at the royals (and the provisions aren’t that special, I believe: apparently, IIRC, the clearers-up once found somebody’s dentures wedged in a meringue abandoned behind a bush). ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2022, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/82 "2022-05-15T22:51:04Z")
Maybe she shakes them down for teaspoons on the way out. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/83 "2022-05-19T18:58:23Z")
She’s out and about again, attended the opening of the Elizabeth train line at Paddington station Pictures here: [Queen Elizabeth Makes Surprise London Underground Visit and Buys Ticket](https://people.com/royals/queen-elizabeth-surprise-london-underground-visit/) and a quote from the article: “Palace officials have stressed that the Queen has been experiencing “episodic mobility problems,” and her appearance at any event going forward will only be confirmed hours before the start time.” Video here, showing her walking: > **[Elizabeth line: Queen makes surprise visit to Paddington Station](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-61465207)** > > Buckingham Palace says the visit, ahead of the line's opening on 24 May, is a "happy development". ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/84 "2022-05-24T07:12:31Z")
As customary, she toured the opening of the Chelsea Flower Show - but in a very snazzy golf buggy. Apparently, they don’t decide these things until a hour or two beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/85 "2022-05-29T13:37:02Z")
William will lead Trooping the Color. I’m surprised he’ll risk being on horseback. IIRC the queen switched to a carriage after the starter pistol incident in 1981. I’ll be interesting to see if the Queen makes any appearances. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2022, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/86 "2022-05-30T07:01:52Z")
To be precise, she didn’t switch to the carriage till some years later, when her usual horse was retired, and (officially) she didn’t want to have to train up a replacement (riding sidesaddle looks uncomfortable, but what do I know?) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/87 "2022-05-30T13:32:44Z")
Thank you for the correction. I had thought the near tragedy brought the change. Side saddle doesn’t look very secure compared to normal riding. The queen was fortunate she got the horse back under control. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/88 "2022-05-30T19:53:30Z")
Sidesaddle is very tricksy, and not secure. The queen is a really good horsewoman. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2022, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/89 "2022-05-30T20:00:53Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > The queen is a really good horsewoman. That’s what I was going to remind people about. She loves horses and practically grew up on one, while it was indeed fortunate that the Queen wasn’t injured during that incident, much of it was because of her skill and reflexes. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/90 "2022-06-01T07:12:17Z")
She had ridden sidesaddle for that parade for decades and on that specific horse for quite some years, too. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/91 "2022-06-05T20:11:04Z")
I have a question, why do Brit say “in hospital” or “in university” instead of “in _the_ hospital”? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/92 "2022-06-05T20:21:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > why do Brit say “in hospital” or “in university” instead of “in _the_ hospital”? Brits might indeed say “in the hospital” if they were referring to a specific known hospital. So the real question is why Americans says “in the hospital” when the specific hospital is unknown? I think you say “in court”, “in prison”, “in school”, “in college”, right? ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/93 "2022-06-05T20:27:27Z")
Excellent point! ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/94 "2022-06-06T00:10:04Z")
My WAG\* is that “in hospital,” “at university” &c refer to a condition or situation rather than a specific place. \* Which is worth what you paid for it (less if you’re a subscriber). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/95 "2022-09-08T15:32:27Z")
5 posts were merged into an existing topic: [Breaking - The Queen is unwell: 8 Sep 2022](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-8-sep-2022/971212/32) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queen-was-in-hospital-2021-10-21/952951/100 "2022-09-08T15:31:55Z")
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