A plaster on the hand: it was the corgis what done it

The mystery of why the Queen sported a plaster on her hand at a glitzy birthday party earlier this month has finally been solved. It was the corgis what done it.

According to friends, the monarch was savaged as she tried to separate two of her beloved pets fighting.

The injury was considered severe enough for the 80-year-old monarch to receive medical treatment for her wound, which was bleeding profusely, and be given a tetanus injection.

The Queen was first spotted wearing the large skin-coloured plaster on the back of her right hand when she arrived at The Ritz last week for a belated 80th birthday celebration.

Its appearance raised more questions about her health, with experts speculating that she may have had a blood sample taken or be fitted with a drip.

The recent weeks she has been forced to cancel a string of engagements due to a niggling back injury she suffered while walking in Scotland.

Friends and family members have also privately expressed concern that her gruelling schedule is beginning to play havoc with her health.

Although Buckingham Palace officials insist the Queen is in 'robust' health, their refusal to reveal why she was wearing the plaster provoked fevered speculation.

But yesterday a close friend, who was with the Queen at The Ritz said she told fellow guests that her corgis were to blame.

"She seemed very brave about the whole thing," the source said.

It is not the first time that she has suffered at the hands of her animals.

In 1991 she needed three stitches after being bitten trying to stop another scrap between six of her dogs and two of the Queen Mother's at Windsor Castle.

Originally trained for herding cattle, corgis have extremely powerful jaws for their size and are known to pack a powerful nip.

Buckingham Palace stressed yesterday that the Queen was back conducting a full diary of engagements.