The Duke of Edinburg was admitted to hospital yesterday for an “exploratory operation” on his abdomen area following a spell of “unwellness”, wherein the Duke felt sufficiently compelled to withdraw from several public engagements with the Queen, the last of which included an engagement with the Royal Institute of Blind People.
Written by Chris White
The last public engagement Phillip attended was last Tuesday’s service at Westminster Abbey, held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.
However, after the garden party Philip was immediately taken to hospital amid health concerns. A Royal spokesman stressed that the admission was not an emergency admission and that the decision to commit him was a decision made purely by the Duke’s own personal physicians.
Later the BBC’s Royal correspondent said that the Prince Consort had walked unaided into the hospital without any significant difficulties.
Additional sources have claimed that Philip’s hospital visit had been previously arranged by several days in advanced, something which was confirmed by the presence of armed police officers outside the hospital days before the 60th coronation anniversary.
According to the guests who attended the garden party that followed the service the Prince Consort showed no visible signs of being unwell, despite claims that the Duke of Edinburgh had sustained a marked, purplish discoloration around the eyes during his most recent tour of Canada in April.
Prince Philip, 91 who is 92 on Monday, has already been admitted to hospital on medical grounds 3 times in the last 2 years, including in August 2012 when he was treated for a urinary tract infection and blocked heart arteries however, it is said that the operation which is scheduled to begin today under general anaesthetic is entirely unrelated to any prior medical condition.
Yesterday a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman issued a statement saying that “further updates will be issued when appropriate”.
She added: “He is in very good health. He felt unwell on Monday and missed an engagement, but that was down to the fact he had temporarily lost his voice.”
However, Dr. Andrew Goddard, of the Royal College of Physicians, said: “I think if it was something simple we would expect investigations to be done as a day case or overnight and the fact they are planning to keep Prince Philip in hospital for up to two weeks suggests he is going to have a fairly major procedure.”
The hospitalisation comes prior to the Queen’s investment of her husband with New Zealand’s highest honour to mark the coronation anniversary, making him a member of the Order of New Zealand.
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