Jan 12, 2009, 11:40 GMT
Belgium's Queen Fabiola has undergone surgery for a mystery ailment.
The 80-year-old widow of King Baudouin - who died in 1993, after 42 years as sovereign - had surgery at a hospital in Liege on Thursday (08.01.09).
A royal spokesman said the queen will stay in hospital under observation for a few days, but refused to give details about her condition.
He said: "Queen Fabiola is at the Liege University Hospital Centre where she underwent a planned benign operation."
However, a French television network has reported the surgery was to fix a thyroid problem.
Fabiola - who was a hospital nurse when she met the king in the late 50s - was Belgium's queen consort between 1960 and 1993.
She has had health problems in the past, suffering five miscarriages during her royal marriage.
She said: "I have had five miscarriages. But that has not made me bitter. On the contrary. You learn from that experience. During each pregnancy I had problems, but you know, in the end I think life is beautiful."
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