British Prince Philip, the 99-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II, is recovering from a “successful” heart operation, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.
“The Duke of Edinburgh underwent a successful procedure for pre-existing heart disease yesterday at St Bartholomew Hospital,” the palace said, using Philip’s formal title.
“His Royal Highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recovery for a few days,” the statement said.
Philip, who will have to turn 100 in June, has been admitted since 16 February, when he was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London as a “preventive measure”.
Initially, he was treated for an infection, but on Monday he was transferred to St. Louis. Bartholomew’s, a hospital specializing in heart care.
It was not immediately known what heart disease was treated at surgery this week, but Philip has had problems with his ticker in the past.
In 2011, he was taken to hospital by helicopter after suffering chest pains and was treated for a blocked coronary artery.
Since he was hospitalized, the Duke has only been publicly visited by his son and heir to Prince Charles.
The 94-year-old queen has stayed at Windsor Castle, where she and Philip have been housed during the coronavirus pandemic and last week continued to perform their official duties on video.
The couple received vaccines against COVID-19 in January and it is not believed that Philip’s disease is related to coronavirus.
Philip, the longest-serving royal consort in British history, married then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947. They have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
With publishing cables