Hip hooray! Philip, 97, joins Queen at church after his op
THE Duke of Edinburgh made a surprise appearance beside the Queen on their Balmoral holiday yesterday.
Prince Philip, 97, had hip replacement surgery two months ago and was not expected to attend the Royals’ annual holiday in Scotland.
But he sat next to his wife of 70 years in a Bentley on the way to Crathie kirk on the estate.
The Prince is also said to be able to enjoy his usual Balmoral pursuits such as deer stalking and fly fishing on the Dee.
They were joined by family including granddaughter Zara and her husband Mike Tindall, Prince Charles and Camilla and Prince Edward, his wife Sophie and daughter Lady Louise, 14.
Charles and Camilla have a home, Birkhall, which belonged to the Queen Mother, on the Balmoral estate and have been spending time with the monarch in recent weeks.
The Tindalls’ new baby Lena, who was born in June, and daughter Mia, four, did not accompany them.
Last year, the Queen departed for Balmoral in mid-July and did not end her annual Highland summer holiday until the first week in October.
Her Majesty’s last official public engagements this year were on July 13 and 14, when she welcomed overseas visitors – most notably US President Donald Trump – to Windsor Castle.
She is said to prefer a very low-key break with lots of family activities.