LONDON (AP) – Prince Philip of Great Britain is expected to remain in a London hospital for several days after being admitted earlier this week in what Buckingham Palace described as “a precautionary measure”.
Queen Elizabeth II’s 99-year-old husband stayed at the King Edward VII private hospital on Friday, where he was admitted on Tuesday night.
The palace said Philip’s admission was made on the advice of his doctor, and he must remain for the weekend and next week for observation and rest.
Philip’s disease is not believed to be related to COVID-19. Both the 94-year-old queen and Philip received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine in early January.
Philip entered the hospital without help after arriving by car, and the palace said he was admitted for “being too cautious”.
Philip, who retired from public office in 2017, rarely appears in public. His most recent public event was a military ceremony at Buckingham Palace in July.
During the current confinement of the coronavirus in England, the duke is staying at Windsor Castle, west of London, with the queen, who functions as meetings with dignitaries remotely.
The royal house is planning celebrations to mark Philip’s 100th birthday on June 10, if blocking restrictions permit.
Philip married then Princess Elizabeth in 1947 and is the oldest royal consort in British history. He and the queen have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
The last time Philip had a period in a hospital, he spent four nights at King Edward VII in December 2019, where he was treated for a “pre-existing illness” and was discharged on Christmas Eve.