London - Princess Margaret, younger sister of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, may have suffered a minor stroke, Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday.

The princess, who had a stroke in 1998, "may recently have had a further minor stroke or be suffering from the follow-on effects of the earlier event," a palace spokesman said.

He said the health of the 70-year-old princess was "a matter of concern" but her condition was not life-threatening.

She was spending most of her time in bed at the Queen's Sandringham estate in eastern England, where the royal family has spent the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Margaret - a headstrong beauty whose life of privilege has been marred by ill-health, thwarted love and whiffs of scandal - was a notable absentee when the royal family made traditional public appearances at Sandringham this Christmas. - Reuters