Prince Philip was due to undergo exploratory surgery on his abdomen at a London hospital yesterday, raising fresh questions about his health
The 91-year-old Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to the private London Clinic on Thursday evening for what Buckingham Palace said was a planned operation under general anaesthetic.
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It was business as usual for the 87-year-old Queen, however, who went ahead with a visit to the BBC’s new headquarters just a few streets away from where her husband was being treated. It is the fourth time in two years that Philip has been hospitalised and follows ‘an abdominal investigation that took place last week’, a palace spokeswoman said.
The duke, who has been married to the queen for 65 years, is expected to stay in hospital for up to two weeks. The spokeswoman insisted however that Philip was ‘in good health’, saying he had walked into the clinic on Harley Street ‘unaided’ after being driven there. Although he missed a gala event on Monday, the duke had a full diary of engagements this week and appeared in good spirits as he attended a garden party just hours before going into hospital.