Duke of Edinburgh returns to private hospital

THE Duke of Edinburgh has left the NHS hospital where he had heart surgery and been moved back to the private King Edward VII’s Hospital for continuing treatment, Buckingham Palace said.

Philip, 99, underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London on Wednesday – just three months before his 100th birthday.

The Palace said in a statement: “Following the Duke of Edinburgh’s successful procedure at St Bartholomew’s Hospital on Wednesday, His Royal Highness has been transferred to King Edward VII’s Hospital this morning.

“The Duke is expected to remain in hospital for continuing treatment for a number of days.”

An ambulance, followed by a car carrying the duke’s personal protection officers, was seen leaving St Bartholomew’s.

The duke, the nation’s longestserving consort, has spent 17 nights in hospital – his longest ever stay.

He was initially admitted to King Edward VII’s – the royal family’s favoured hospital – in central London on February 16 after feeling unwell at Windsor Castle, before being moved by ambulance to St Bartholomew’s on Monday.

Concern will be heightened for the duke because of his advanced age, with the Duchess of Cornwall saying this week that Philip was “slightly improving” and adding: “We’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

Philip has spent most of lockdown at Windsor Castle with the Queen, alongside a reduced household of staff dubbed HMS Bubble.

The couple received their first Covid-19 jabs in January.