Scottish Daily Mail

Dad’s looking forward to getting out, says Edward

He tells of call with Philip as Palace reveals 99-year-old has ‘infection’

- By Rebecca English Royal Editor

THE Duke of Edinburgh is being treated for an ‘infection’ and will remain in hospital for several more days, Buckingham Palace said yesterday.

Officials did not reveal further details of his condition but said the 99-year-old was ‘comfortabl­e and responding to treatment’.

It was the first update on Prince Philip, pictured, since royal aides announced that the Queen’s consort had been admitted to the private King Edward VII Hospital in London last Tuesday for ‘observatio­n and rest’ after falling ill.

But there was positive news yesterday when his youngest son, Prince Edward, revealed that he had managed to talk to his father on the phone. Asked how the duke was doing, Edward told Sky News: ‘I did speak to him the other day... so he’s a lot better, thank you very much indeed, and he’s looking forward to getting out, which is the most positive thing. So we keep our fingers crossed.’

Asked if the duke was frustrated at being in hospital, Edward said: ‘Just a bit! I think that gets to all of us. You can only watch the clock so many times and the walls are only so interestin­g.’ He said he also wanted to say thank you on behalf of his family and father for all the kind messages they had received. We’ve had some brilliant and lovely messages from all sorts of people and we really appreciate that and so does he. I’ve been passing them on. It’s fantastic, thank you.’ Aides had stressed that the Duke of Edinburgh walked into hospital unaided and was in ‘good spirits’.

But there was widespread concern when Philip, who will celebrate his 100th birthday in June, did not come out after a few days as expected.

An apparently tearful Prince of Wales was seen visiting his father on Saturday after making a 200mile round trip from Gloucester­shire, adding to fears for his health. Philip has endured several bouts of ill health in recent years, including a number of trips to hospital for bladder infections. He first developed the condition after being forced to stand for hours in driving rain as part of a Thames river pageant marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebratio­n in 2012.

His current stay in hospital is his longest medical admission for at least a decade without a pre-planned operation.

Yesterday the Duchess of Cornwall, as president of the Royal Voluntary Service, visited the Wembley Park vaccinatio­n centre in London to meet NHS volunteers and staff.

Camilla received the jab this month. The 73-year-old said: ‘It feels like the first step of freedom, I certainly felt like that.

‘I hope you’re able to be reunited with your grandchild­ren, I think we’re all looking forward to that.’

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