Princess Margaret suffers third stroke

"Princess Margaret suffered a further minor stroke early on Tuesday afternoon. It will be some while before the extent of her recovery can be determined.

"Her royal highness is remaining at Kensington Palace where nursing care is being provided. The queen is being kept closely informed and the Princess's family have visited her," the palace said.

Margaret, 70, spent 10 days in a London hospital during January following a suspected stroke over Christmas while she was at Sandringham, the queen's Norfolk estate to where the family traditionally retreats for Christmas.

Following her release from hospital in January the Princess cancelled all her public engagements but had been seen out on several occasions, and it was assumed she was making a gradual recovery. In 1998 Margaret suffered a mild stroke while holidaying on the Caribbean island of Mustique and was flown back to Britain for treatment.

A year later, she incurred severe burns to her legs and feet, apparently while taking a bath during a stay on Mustique. Once a heavy smoker, Margaret had part of a lung removed in 1985. She has suffered migraines, laryngitis, bronchitis, hepatitis and pneumonia.

The operation on her lung did not stop her smoking, even though four of her ancestors - Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII and her own father, George VI - all died of smoking-related illnesses.

(la/dpa)