LONDON (Reuters) – Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth’s 99-year-old husband, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday as a precautionary measure after falling ill with a disease unrelated to COVID-19.
The prince, whose official title is the Duke of Edinburgh, entered London’s private King Edward VII Hospital without help after feeling unwell for a brief period, a royal source said.
The 94-year-old queen remains at Windsor Castle near London, where the couple has been housed during the British coronavirus pandemic. Both received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in January.
“The Duke’s admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of his Royal Highness’s doctor, after feeling unwell,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“The Duke is expected to remain in hospital for a few days of observation and rest.”
A royal source said Philip did not have a COVID-19-related illness and it was not an emergency.
Within an hour of his arrival, camera crews and photographers from Britain, Australia, France and Germany had gathered in front of the hospital, where police were on duty.
“I am sorry to learn that His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh is in hospital,” said British Health Secretary Matt Hancock. “Sending you my best wishes for a speedy recovery.”
A former naval officer known for his sometimes abrupt manner and humor, Philip married Elizabeth in 1947, five years before he became queen. He is now, by far, the longest-serving consort of any British monarch.
The couple’s marriage, the previous legacy of what was expected of the British throne and family life with four children, has been traced in recent years by Netflix’s drama The Crown.
Currently, Philip is rarely seen in public. She left official engagements in August 2017 after completing more than 22,000 solo events and thousands more alongside the Queen.
During the pandemic, the royal family has visited hospitals and front-line workers, either online or in person, to thank them for their effort. On Wednesday, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, visited staff at a Birmingham hospital.
The royal family has also been in the news in recent days after Philip’s grandson, Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan, announced that they were expecting their second child and had accepted an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Among the issues they will address is why the couple left the royal family to spend more time in America last year.
Philip, of Greek descent, has had several hospital stays over the past decade, including treating an infection in 2017 and hip replacement surgery. He was previously admitted to hospital in late 2019.
The Duke will have to turn 100 in June. Newspapers have reported that he does not want any public fuss.
Additional reports by Michael Holden and Kate Holton; edited by Guy Faulconbridge, Giles Elgood and Mike Collett-White