LONDON: Britain's 86-year-old Queen Elizabeth II spent Sunday night in hospital after being admitted for the first time in 10 years as a precautionary measure against the symptoms of gastroenteritis.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the monarch's planned visit to Rome this week had been called off. The British Queen hasn't made an overseas trip since October 2011.

Known for her robust health and devotion to duty, Britain's head of state rarely misses engagements.

“The Queen is being assessed at King Edward VII's Hospital in London after experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis. As a precaution, all official engagements this week will be either postponed or cancelled,” the palace spokesman said.

He added that the monarch was in “good spirits” and was otherwise in “good health”.

“This is a precautionary measure,” the spokesman stressed.

“She was not taken into hospital immediately after feeling the symptoms.

“This is simply to enable doctors to better assess her.”

The Queen was reported to have been well enough earlier Sunday to present an award to a member of staff for her long service and also to attend a chapel service in Windsor.