PHILIP’S XMAS IN HOSPITAL
Duke may miss royal festivities due to ‘existing condition’
PRINCE Philip faces Christmas without his family after being admitted to hospital yesterday. The 98-year-old was taken in for treatment of an “existing condition” and will stay for “a few days”. But the Queen went to Sandringham to begin the royal break, calming fears on his health. The Palace said: “The admission is precautionary.”
PRINCE Philip’s plans for a family Christmas at Sandringham were scuppered by his admission to hospital yesterday.
The 98-year-old will spend “a few days” on a private ward after being admitted as a precaution on a doctor’s advice because of an existing condition.
But Palace aides dispelled any fears Philip suffered an emergency, insisting he did not need an ambulance to take him from Sandringham in Norfolk to King Edward VII Hospital, Central London, where he walked in “unaided”.
The Queen went ahead with her plans to travel to the royal estate yesterday ahead of the Christmas holidays, where she will be joined by close family including son Prince Charles.
A statement from the Palace said: “The Duke of Edinburgh travelled from Norfolk this morning to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition. The admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness’ Doctor.”
Royal expert Ingrid Seward told how Philip and his 93-year-old wife are used to spending time away from each other.
The Majesty Magazine editor-in-chief said: “Philip has always been renowned for being as tough as an ox and incredibly active throughout his life.
“It is no surprise the Queen has carried on with her Sandringham plans while he is in hospital.
“Since the early days of their marriage when he was still serving in the Royal Navy they were used to spending large amounts of time apart and have always managed to be very independent of each other while remaining incredibly supporting of one another.”
The Queen caught the 10.42am Great Northern service from King’s Cross station in London and arrivedin King’s Lynn at 12.31pm to begin the first day of her Christmas retreat. She is understood to have spoken to her husband before he was admitted and is being kept informed of how he is doing.
Palace sources said it was unclear when the Duke would be discharged.
The royals will be seen going to church on Christmas Day by locals who gather to catch a glimpse of them.
Philip was last seen out in public at Balmoral in August.
He has suffered a string of health scares in recent years.
In June 2017, he was admitted to hospital with an infection. The Duke missed the State Opening of Parliament, with the Prince of Wales stepping in to accompany the Queen. Last year he was in for 10 days after a hip replacement.
In 2013, the duke had “an exploratory operation” on his abdomen.
A year earlier, he missed the majority of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations after falling ill with a bladder infection.
In 2011, Philip spent Christmas in hospital after having a stent put in to clear a blocked coronary artery.
In January the Duke was involved in a crash when his Land Rover Freelander hit a car near the Sandringham estate.
The other driver, Emma Fairweather, suffered a broken wrist. Philip later voluntarily gave up his driving licence
But royal insiders insist the Duke, who retired from public life in 2017 and lives at Sandringham permanently, is still “very fit and incredibly sharp”. He was even seen walking briskly down the corridors of the Palace a few weeks ago.
The Queen has described Philip, who she married at Westminster Abbey in 1947, as her “strength and stay”.
She is due to remain in Norfolk until after February 6. That is the anniversary of her father King George VI’s death at Sandringham in 1952.
Philip has been renowned for being as tough as an ox
INGRID SEWARD OF MAJESTY MAGAZINE