Queen Elizabeth's Swine Flu Fears

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has cancelled a visit to a school over fears of swine flu.

The 83-year-old monarch and husband Prince Philip had been due to open a new sports hall at Gordonstoun School in Scotland next week but the visit has been called off.

Principal Mark Pyper said: "It is particularly unfortunate that the visit due to be made by the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh has had to be postponed.

"There were naturally some important health issues involved with this and we would want their visit to be a special and happy occasion, both for them and the whole school community."

Gordonstoun has had several confirmed cases of swine flu, and 118 pupils out of 603 were absent from classes for health reasons although none were seriously ill.

The school has strong connections with the royal family, with Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward among its former pupils.