Philip spends his first night in new hospital

THE Duke of Edinburgh was today spending his first full day under the care of specialist heart doctors after being moved to the UK’s top cardiology hospital.

The 99-year-old was taken by ambulance from King Edward VII’s Hospital to St Bartholomew’s Hospital near St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday, where he is to undergo testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition. The duke has been hospitalised now for two weeks, his longest recorded stay in hospital. He is said to be “comfortable” and will continue to receive treatment for an infection “until at least the end of the week”.

Buckingham Palace said his medical team would also be carrying out tests for “a pre-existing heart condition”. The duke had a stent fitted following a blocked coronary artery in 2011.

Uniformed officers from the City of London Police were at the entrance of St Bartholomew’s today. At King Edward’s yesterday he was shielded from public view with a series of umbrellas held up as he made his way into a waiting ambulance. St Bartholomew’s — commonly known as Barts — describes itself as an “internationally renowned hospital” and a “centre of excellence for both cardiac and cancer care”.

The site includes a specialist cardiovascular service at Barts Health Centre.

Buckingham Palace said: “The duke remains comfortable and is responding to treatment but is expected to remain in hospital until at least the end of the week.”

Members of the Royal Family ae expected to carry out engagements as normal while the duke remains in hospital. It comes as the palace released footage of the Queen remotely unveiling a sculpture of herself in Australia. She spoke with officials in South Australia lask week and witnessed the unveiling of a statue of herself during a video call.

Speaking to the Governor of South Australia, Hieu Van Le, and Steven Marshall, Premier of South Australia, Her Majesty, 94, smiled at the new sculpture, installed in the grounds of Government House in Adelaide. It depicts the royal carrying her trademark Launer handbag.

The Queen, speaking from Windsor Castle, said: “I would think possibly it might be quite alarming to suddenly see it out of the window — you’d think, gracious, has she arrived unexpectedly?”

During the call, the Australian representatives discussed the country’s efforts in the fight against coronavirus.

Sculptor Robert Hannaford also presented the Queen with a “maquette”, a scale model of the statue, which will be sent as a memento.

The Queen remarked: “That’s very kind. I’m glad it’s not quite as big as the original statue.”