LONDON- On Friday, 98-year old Prince Philip was taken to the hospital for the treatment of an existing condition as a precaution, the Buckingham Palace said.
The Duke of Edinburgh and the husband of Queen Elizabeth travelled from their Sandringham home in Norfolk to London’s King Edward VII Hospital for treatment and observation, according to the palace’s statement.
The statement said that the admission is a precautionary measure on advice of the doctor. A royal source also said that the admission was not an emergency and that the prince walked into the hospital. He is expected to be hospitalised there for a few days.
Prince Philip who has been by the Queen’s side throughout her 67-year reign retired from public life in August 2017. He has occasionally been seen at a few official engagements since then.
The official opening of parliament on Thursday was carried out by the 93-year old queen and the prince’s illness did not disrupt her plans. She arrived in Norfolk on Friday and then headed out to Sandringham for the annual royal family Christmas gathering.
Prince Philip has needed hospital treatment plenty of times in recent years. He spent 2011 Christmas hospitalised after an operation to clear a blocked artery and he missed his wife’s 60th-year celebrations as he was in the hospital with a bladder infection.
The couple celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in November and Queen Elizabeth describes Prince Philip as her “strength and stay” for her long reign.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.