Prince Philip discharged after four nights in hospital
Written by News on 24/12/2019
The Duke of Edinburgh has left hospital after being treated for a “pre-existing condition”.
Prince Philip was seen getting into a car in a secluded street behind King Edward VII’s hospital in central London after a four-night stay.
The 98-year-old did not respond to photographers as he was driven away.
He has now returned to Sandringham to spend Christmas with the Queen.
The palace said in a statement: “The Duke of Edinburgh has today left hospital after being discharged by his doctor and is now back at Sandringham.
“His Royal Highness would like to thank everyone who sent their good wishes.”
Buckingham Palace would not go into details about Philip’s pre-existing condition, or the nature of his treatment.
The duke has generally enjoyed good health, appearing to recover well from a planned hip replacement operation in April 2018.
He escaped with minor injuries after a dramatic car crash near Sandringham in January, but in the past decade has been admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery, bladder infections and a blocked coronary artery.
Philip’s decision to retire from public duties during 2017 was not health-related, Buckingham Palace said at the time of the announcement.
Analysis: A man who doesn’t like a fuss
By Rhiannon Mills, royal correspondent
These were the pictures everyone wanted to see before Christmas, the Duke of Edinburgh walking by himself without any help as he left the hospital. On previous occasions when he’s been treated at the King Edward VII, he’s always left via a back entrance, so it wasn’t surprising to see this happen again.
He is after all a man who doesn’t like a fuss. But the photographers and TV cameras waiting for him were still able to see him clearly looking happy and relaxed, thanking staff as he got into the passenger seat without any help. Some may suggest that he looks unwell in some of the photographs but it is worth remembering he is 98 years old.
We still don’t know what the duke was being treated for,. The palace didn’t release any updates after he was admitted on Friday, simply saying that it was a planned admission for a pre-existing medical condition. Certainly the royal family haven’t seemed overly concerned about him, carrying on as normal with their festive preparations. But they will no doubt be pleased to have the duke back with them in Norfolk, ready to open their presents on Christmas Eve as is traditional for the Royal Family.
(c) Sky News 2019: Prince Philip discharged after four nights in hospital
