Duke to spend second night in hospital for treatment to infection

The Duke of Edinburgh is to spend a second night in hospital being treated for an infection that forced him to miss the state opening of Parliament and Royal Ascot.

Philip was admitted to the private King Edward VII Hospital in London on Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure after becoming ill with an infection.

There is likely to be concern for the 96-year-old duke, but he was out of his hospital bed early yesterday and a palace spokesman said he was in “good spirits”.

Following a meeting with faith leaders at a Finsbury Park mosque yesterday afternoon Prince Charles said his father was “getting better”.

The Prince of Wales took the place of his father and accompanied the Queen to Westminster for the state opening of parliament.

The duke was at the Queen’s side on Tuesday for the opening day of Royal Ascot and a source said he was on “good form” during the event.

Philip has enjoyed good health for much of his life, recovering from a blocked coronary artery in 2011 and a bladder infection in 2012, the latter leading him to miss the majority of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and spend a period in hospital.

His decision to retire from public duties after the summer was not health-related, Buckingham Palace said at the time of the announcement earlier this year.

The duke is an advocate of healthy eating combined with exercise.

He once said he more or less followed the Atkins diet and he drinks only moderately.

He told a flu expert at a research centre last year that he had not had the illness for 40 years.

Prince Philip is said to be in good spirits.