LONDON (AP) – British Prince Philip is expected to remain in a London hospital for several more days after being admitted earlier this week in what Buckingham Palace described as “a precautionary measure”.
Queen Elizabeth II’s 99-year-old husband remained at King Edward VII’s private hospital on Friday, where he was admitted on Tuesday evening.
The palace said Philip’s admission was made on the advice of his doctor, and he is expected to remain over the weekend and next week for observation and rest.
Philip’s disease is not thought to be related to COVID-19. Both the 94-year-old queen and Philip received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine in early January.
Philip entered the hospital without help after arriving by car and the palace has said he was admitted as a “great precaution”.
Philip, who retired from public office in 2017, rarely appears in public. His most recent public act was a military ceremony at Buckingham Palace in July.
During the current closure of the coronavirus in England, the Duke has been staying at Windsor Castle, west London, with the Queen, who has performed tasks such as meetings with remote dignitaries.
The royal house plans to celebrate Philip’s 100th birthday on June 10, if block restrictions allow.
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.
Philip had a spell for the last time in a hospital when he spent four nights at King Edward VII in December 2019, where he was treated for a “pre-existing condition” and was discharged on Christmas Eve.