He’ll use a stick at first

A NEW hip will dramatically improve Philip’s quality of life and reduce his pain.

However, it may take up to three months before the duke is fully recovered and mobile.

And he is likely to be on crutches for the first few weeks and need a walking stick to move around.

Around 800 patients in their nineties have hip replacements in the UK every year. The surgeon makes an incision into the hip, removes the damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial one made of a metal alloy.

While the operation is usually swift, rehabilitation is demanding and requires commitment.

Patients are given a range of exercises to gradually improve their strength and mobility.