Queen Climbs Up 152 Steps, Quiets Talk of Heart Illness
Queen Elizabeth II climbed 152 steps to the top of a remote lighthouse on the rugged west coast of Scotland today, dispelling fears that she was having heart problems.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday that the 60-year-old monarch had visited London’s National Heart Hospital for a checkup.
Today, during a trip to the Scottish Highlands, the queen visited the lighthouse on this rugged promontory, climbing the 152 steps to look at the view out over the Western Isles toward the Atlantic Ocean.
The press reports had quoted experts as saying it was unusual for the monarch to have to go to a hospital unless specialized tests were needed.
But witnesses said today the queen made the climb with ease, and lighthouse keeper Jim Hardie said she was not out of breath when she reached the top.
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