Duke’s health is more important than Oprah, insists Palace
THE Royal family has “more important things to worry about” than the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Oprah Winfrey interview, Buckingham Palace aides said last night, as the Duke of Edinburgh was transferred to a leading cardiac hospital.
Prince Philip, 99, was taken by ambulance from the private King Edward VII’S Hospital to St Bartholomew’s Hospital in central London just hours after a clip of the Sussexes’ “shocking” comments was released by a US television network. The timing of the couple’s interview was described as “unfortunate”, amid speculation about whether it might have to be pulled.
Palace aides suggested that the family’s focus was solely on the Duke of Edinburgh, who has already spent 13 nights in hospital and is expected to remain there until at least the end of the week. One aide said: “The family is very worried about him, and their thoughts are very much with him rather than this Oprah interview. They have much more important things to worry about.”
Another senior aide said: “This programme is not something we are focusing on at the moment.” A US television
insider described the timing of the interview, as Prince Harry’s grandfather remained in hospital, as the network’s “worst nightmare.”
They said: “Every network prepares for all eventualities but ultimately, the show must go on. This programme has been significantly trailed and will almost certainly go ahead as billed.”
Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said that while the timing was “unfortunate”, it was out of the Sussexes’ hands. “This interview has been hyped significantly by CBS and the ball is very much in their court. The transmission date is likely to be set in stone, and I can’t imagine it being pulled.”
Concern for the Duke, who turns 100 in June, was heightened as Buckingham Palace announced that he had been transferred to St Bartholomew’s, where cardiac specialists will continue to treat him for an infection. But he will also “undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition”.
The Palace added in a statement: “The Duke remains comfortable and is responding to treatment, but is expected to remain in hospital until at least the end of the week.” The Duke, who in 2011 received treatment for a blocked coronary artery, was carefully shielded as he left the King Edward VII’S hospital at around 11.15am.
Large umbrellas were used as a protective screen as he was transferred into a waiting ambulance. The Palace did not immediately confirm he had left, opting to wait until he had arrived at St Bartholomew’s before making the announcement. The Duke was admitted on Feb 16 for “rest and observation” after feeling unwell. Although he was expected to be discharged after just a few days, the Palace later revealed he was being treated for an infection and would remain in hospital for several more days.
St Bartholomew’s, an NHS hospital that also offers private care, is the largest cardiac centre in the UK and is described as “a world-leading centre of excellence” that uses advanced technology, and the latest drugs and treatments. Palace sources have repeatedly insisted that although the Duke has never before spent so long in hospital, his doctors were “acting with an abundance of caution”.
Throughout his stay, he has had only one royal visitor, the Prince of Wales, who spent around 30 minutes at his bedside on Feb 20. Senior royals have continued with business as usual, carrying out several public engagements to highlight the vaccination programme.