Prince Philip, 96, getting hip surgery
LONDON — The Queen’s 96-yearold husband, Prince Philip, has been admitted to a London hospital for a previously scheduled hip surgery, Buckingham Palace says.
The palace said the prince entered the King Edward VII Hospital on Tuesday afternoon and would have the surgery today. It said the hospital admission and surgery were planned.
Officials declined to provide additional details about the surgery and said “further updates will be issued when appropriate.”
The prince announced in May that he was retiring from most public duties after decades of royal service. The palace said at the time he had carried out roughly 22,000 solo royal engagements since the Queen ascended to the throne in 1952.
Philip has missed several events in recent weeks, including an Easter Sunday church service in Windsor. He has been reported to be hobbled by hip pain, but the news of the planned surgery took many by surprise.
The health scare comes at a busy time for the Royal Family. Prince William and his wife, Kate, are expecting their third child this month, and Prince Harry plans to marry American actor Meghan Markle on May 19 at Windsor Castle.
Philip has been in generally good health for his age, but he was briefly hospitalized over Christmas in 2011 for angioplasty treatment of a blockage in his coronary arteries. He has suffered from other ailments as well, but has not spoken about them in public.
He and Elizabeth celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in November.