Prince Philip begins third week at King Edward VII hospital after suffering infection – as it’s claimed the Queen is unlikely to visit Duke, 99, due to Covid
- Duke of Edinburgh’s treatment for an infection continues at hospital in London
- Philip, 99, has been in hospital for 14 days after being admitted on February 16
- He has only so far had a visit from Prince Charles who saw him on February 20
- Philip’s time at King Edward VII Hospital is his longest ever stay in hospital
The Duke of Edinburgh began his third week in hospital today as his treatment for an infection continues amid claims the Queen is unlikely to visit him.
Prince Philip, 99, has now been at King Edward VII Hospital in London for 14 days after being admitted on February 16, making this his longest ever stay in hospital.
The Duke has only so far had a visit from Prince Charles who saw him on February 20, but one royal correspondent said the lack of other visitors was unsurprising.
The Queen and Prince Philip look at wedding anniversary cards at Windsor last November
Police officers stand outside King Edward VII Hospital in London’s Marylebone this morning
ITV royal editor Chris Ship said in The Royal Rota podcast: ‘We’ve been outside the hospital before, the Queen didn’t come during the hip operation.
‘She didn’t come when he was last in the hospital. I doubt very much that she’s going to come at all now because of the Covid situation and being aged 94.’
He added that Princess Anne ‘might go’ because she visited him when he was in the same hospital for a hip operation in 2018 after he had been there for nine days.
The Duke also previously spent 11 days in hospital in June 2013 after an operation on his abdomen, a stay which included his 92nd birthday.
Police officers stand outside King Edward VII Hospital today where Philip has been for 14 days
Police at the hospital in London this morning, where the Duke was admitted on February 16
He was admitted last month as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell, and walked into the building unaided.
Buckingham Palace said last week that he was ‘comfortable’ and responding to medical treatment.
Both the duke and the Queen, 94, have received Covid-19 vaccinations and Philip’s infection is not related to coronavirus.
Charles made a 200-mile round trip from his home at Highgrove in Gloucestershire to see him.
Police cars at King Edward VII Hospital today where 99-year-old Philip is being treated
Prince Charles visited to the Duke of Edinburgh in London on the afternoon of February 20
The Queen’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said Philip was likely to have ‘requested’ his eldest son’s presence to discuss the future of the Royal Family, given recent developments with Prince Harry.
The Duke, who will turn 100 in June, has also spoken to other members of the Royal Family on the phone. The Queen has remained in Windsor.
Speaking last week, Prince Edward said Philip was ‘a lot better’, but admitted he was frustrated to be in hospital.
He told Sky News: ‘He’s a lot better, thank you very much indeed, and he’s looking forward to getting out, which is the most positive thing, so we keep our fingers crossed.’