LONDON (AP) – Prince Philip has had a successful heart procedure at a London hospital and is expected to have a few days of “rest and recovery”, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.
The palace said that Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, “aged 99,” underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. “
“His Royal Highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recovery for a few days,” the palace said in a statement.
Philip, 99, has been hospitalized since he was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London on February 16, where he was treated for an infection. On Monday, he was transferred to a specialized cardiac care hospital, St. Bartholomew.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, said Wednesday that Philip’s condition was “slightly improving.”
“We will keep our fingers crossed,” said Camilla, who is married to Prince Charles, the eldest son of Philip and the queen.
Philip’s disease is not thought to be linked to coronavirus. Both Philip and the monarch received COVID-19 vaccinations in January and chose to make the issue public to encourage others to get the vaccine.
Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, retired in 2017 and rarely appears in public. Prior to hospitalization, Philip had secluded himself at Windsor Castle, west London, with the Queen.
Although he enjoyed good health until old age, Philip had heart problems 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.
The longest-lived royal consort in British history, Philip married Princess Elizabeth in 1947. He and the queen have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
His illness comes as the royal family prepares for an interview with Oprah Winfrey with Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan and Prince Harry’s husband gave up their royal duties last year and moved to California, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.
The relationship between the couple and the palace seems to have become increasingly strained. On Wednesday, the palace said it was launching an investigation into human resources after a newspaper reported that a former assistant accused Meghan of staff assault in 2018.
In a video from CBS’s pre-recorded Winfrey interview, Winfrey asks Meghan how she feels about the palace. “Hearing you tell the truth today?”
“I don’t know how one would expect us to remain silent after all this time only if there was an active role that the company plays in perpetuating the lies about us,” says the duchess.
“Company” is a nickname for the royal family, sometimes used with affection and sometimes with a note of criticism.