Prince Philip of Great Britain, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, aged 99, is recovering from a “successful” heart operation, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.
“The Duke of Edinburgh underwent a successful procedure yesterday for a pre-existing heart condition at St Bartholomew’s Hospital,” the palace said, using Philip’s formal title.
“His Royal Highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recovery for a few days,” the statement said.
Philip – who will turn 100 in June – has been hospitalized since February 16 when he was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London as a “precautionary measure”.
He was initially treated for an infection, but on Monday was transferred to St. Bartholomew’s, a specialized cardiac care hospital.
It was not immediately clear what heart disease was being treated in surgery this week, but Philip has had problems with his past in the past.
In 2011, he was rushed to a hospital by helicopter after suffering chest pain and being treated for a blocked coronary artery.
Since being hospitalized, the duke has been publicly visited only by his son and Prince Charles’ heir.
The 94-year-old queen stayed at Windsor Castle, where she and Philip stayed during the coronavirus pandemic, and last week continued to perform their official tasks on video.
The couple received COVID-19 vaccinations in January, and Philip’s illness is not thought to be related to coronavirus.
The longest-lived royal consort in British history, Philip married the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947. They have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
With Post threads