LONDON (AP) – British Prince Philip is expected to remain in a London hospital for a few more days after being hospitalized earlier this week in what Buckingham Palace described as “a precautionary measure”.
Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, aged 99, remained at King Edward VII’s private hospital on Friday, where he was hospitalized on Tuesday night.
The palace said Philip’s admission was taken on the advice of his doctor and he expects to stay over the weekend and next week for observation and rest.
Philip’s illness is not thought to be related to COVID-19. Both the 94-year-old queen and Philip received a first dose of coronavirus vaccine in early January.
Philip entered the hospital without help after arriving by car, and the palace said he was hospitalized out of “great caution.”
Philip, who retired from public office in 2017, rarely appears in public. His most recent public event was a military ceremony at Buckingham Palace in July.
During the current blockade of the coronavirus in England, the duke stayed at Windsor Castle, west of London, with the queen, who performed duties such as meetings with distant dignitaries.
The royal household is planning holidays to mark Philip’s 100th birthday on June 10, with restrictions on blocking.
Philip married Princess Elizabeth in 1947 and is the longest-lived royal consort in British history. He and the queen have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Philip had his last spell in a hospital when he spent four nights with King Edward VII in December 2019, where he was treated for a “pre-existing condition” and discharged on Christmas Eve.