Britain's Princess Anne scraps Africa trip due to illness

Britain's Princess Anne, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, has a "bad chest infection" and has cancelled a visit to Botswana and Mozambique at the end of this month, royal officials said Friday.

The news comes a week after Buckingham Palace first announced shortly after her return from the Rio Olympics that Anne, 66, was sick and would not attend scheduled engagements.

She has spent this week resting after being treated in hospital in Aberdeen, northeast Scotland, on September 9, where she was admitted from the queen's Balmoral residence in the Scottish Highlands.

"The princess royal is still recovering from a bad chest infection. (Her) working programme for next week has therefore been scaled back, with a number of engagements cancelled," a Buckingham Palace statement said.

"As a precaution, on the advice of doctors, the princess will not undertake the planned visit to Botswana and Mozambique at the end of the month."

She was due to attend Botswana's 50th anniversary celebrations from September 28 to 30.

Another of the queen's children, Prince Andrew, will now attend instead.

Anne's recent engagements include spending time at the Rio Olympics as a member of the International Olympic Committee.

The princess is 12th in line to the British throne and is known for her love of horses and busy schedule of engagements -- the most of any member of the royal family last year.