LONDON (AP) – Prince Philip, 99, has been admitted to a London hospital after feeling unwell, Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday.
The palace said Queen Elizabeth II’s husband was admitted to King Edward VII’s private hospital on Tuesday evening.
He called the admission “a precautionary measure” taken on the advice of Philip’s doctor. The palace said Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, is expected to remain a few days of “observation and rest”.
Its disease is not thought to be related to COVID-19. The queen and Philip received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine in early January.
The office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he “sends his best wishes to the Duke of Edinburgh as he is undergoing a few days off in hospital”.
Philip retired from public office in 2017 and rarely appears in public. His most recent public event was a military ceremony at Buckingham Palace in July.
During the current closure of the coronavirus in England, the Duke has lodged at Windsor Castle, west London, with the Queen, who has carried out tasks such as meetings with remote dignitaries.
If the blockade allows, the royal house plans to hold celebrations to commemorate Philip’s 100th birthday on June 10th.
Philip married the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947 and is the royal consort who served most in British history. He and the queen have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A former naval officer and enthusiastic polo player, Philip enjoyed good health into old age, but has had several health problems in recent years.
In 2011, he was taken to hospital by helicopter after suffering chest pains and was treated for a blocked coronary artery. In 2017, he spent two nights at King Edward VII Hospital and was hospitalized for 10 days in 2018 for a hip replacement.
Philip was last hospitalized in December 2019 and spent four nights at King Edward VII Hospital so the palace said it was planned to treat a pre-existing condition.
He was forced to stop driving at the age of 97, after crashing into a car while driving a Land Rover near the Sandringham estate in January 2019. Philip needed help to get out of the Land Rover but was not injured. A woman in the other vehicle broke her wrist.
Even after that, Philip continued to drive a horse and carriage from time to time through private lands.