Queen Fabiola underwent thyroid surgery in the university hospital of Liège. She did not have a general anaesthetic; instead she was sedated by hypnosis.

The news that Queen Fabiola was in hospital only came out on Sunday, just a few hours before she was released from hospital to return home.

For this thyroid surgery she was completely sedated under hypnosis.

The technique used is called 'hypnosedation'. It is used mostly on older people because general sedation can have many difficult side-effects. It can also be dangerous for older people.

Queen Fabiola is 80 years old. The hospital in Liège is known for using hypnosedation. More than 4,000 operations have already been done using the technique. It is likely she chose this hospital for this reason.

Queen Fabiola is the widow of King Boudewijn who died in July 1993.  Boudewijn reigned as King of the Belgians from 1951 to 1993.  He was the eldest son of King Leopold III (1901-1983) and his first wife Princess Astrid of Sweden (1905 -1935).

King Boudewijn and Queen Fabiola were childless. After King Boudewijn's death the throne went to his younger brother King Albert II.

(flandersnews.be/Expatica)