Daily Mirror

We forget he’s 96, he carries himself so well

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PRINCE Philip keeps going by sheer willpower. If he has an engagement at 9am, he will get up at 5am in order to be ready. He really pushes himself.

He will be very miffed not to have been at the Queen’s side during her speech because that is his duty.

So I’m sure it wasn’t easy to persuade him to go into hospital the night before.

However, he won’t have minded missing Royal Ascot at all – that’s the Queen’s thing, not his. When he goes to the races he usually sits at the back of the Royal Box and watches cricket on TV. Racing is not his preferred way of spending the day.

Taking part in the carriage procession at Ascot in the heat won’t have helped his infection. People forget just how old he is because he carries himself so well. Completing the procession can’t have been great for someone of his age.

At 96, even something small can knock your health at any time.

But no one will begrudge Philip missing the Queen’s Speech, especially considerin­g Prince Charles was at her side.

We can expect him to pull out of more events in the future now he has announced his partial retirement.

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