The Duchess of Rothesay has broken her leg while hillwalking in Scotland, Clarence House said today.

The accident happened yesterday when the 62-year-old royal slipped while outdoors, and an X-ray today revealed that she had suffered a twisted fracture of her left fibula.

Camilla had been holidaying at Birkhall, the Prince of Wales’s private home on the Queen's Balmoral estate when the accident happened.

A Clarence House spokeswoman said that although doctors have advised her not to put any weight on her leg she intends to carry out all her official engagements, which are scheduled for the end of the month.

She added: "Yesterday while hillwalking in slippery conditions in Scotland, the Duchess of Cornwall took a tumble and hurt her leg. Today, following doctor's advice, her royal highness had an x-ray which showed a twisted fracture of the fibula. Consequently her royal highness is wearing a plaster cast and will be for six weeks.

"She has been advised not to put weight on her leg. Her royal highness has every intention of carrying out all planned engagements."

The spokeswoman later described how Camilla was coping with the situation, saying: "The Duchess is cheerful and it's a case of 'Life goes on - it could be worse'."

Clarence House would not disclose at which hospital Camilla was treated or the exact location of the accident.

Before the injury Camilla had been suffering from unrelated health problems. A trapped nerve in her back which had been causing her some pain forced her to cancel a number of engagements during her recent tour to Eastern Europe with Prince Charles.

Car journeys on bumpy roads were avoided so as not to aggravate the problem.