[News] Prince Philip has successful heart procedure, palace says

[Sxynix]

 

The Duke of Edinburgh has undergone a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition, Buckingham Palace has said.

The palace said the duke would remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days.

Prince Philip, 99, has already spent 16 nights in hospital.

He was being treated for an infection and moved to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London on Monday for tests and observation on his heart condition.

Buckingham Palace said the procedure took place on Wednesday.

Prince Philip moves hospital for further treatment
Prince Philip 'slightly improving', says Camilla
Royal Family tree and line of succession
In 2011, Prince Philip was taken to hospital by helicopter from Sandringham after suffering chest pains as the royal family was preparing for Christmas.

He was treated for a blocked coronary artery at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire and had a stent fitted.

The duke, who turns 100 in June, travelled by car from Windsor to King Edward VII's hospital in Marylebone, central London, on 16 February as a precaution after feeling unwell.

The exact reason for his initial admission was not disclosed, but it was not related to coronavirus.

On Monday, Buckingham Palace announced he had been transferred to Barts by ambulance.

St Bartholomew's Hospital in the City of London is an NHS hospital and home to Europe's largest specialised cardiovascular unit.
St Bartholomew's is Britain's oldest hospital, according to the NHS website, and is set to celebrate its 900th birthday in 2023
The NHS teaching hospital is internationally renowned
It has beds for more than 300 patients, supported by 2,500 staff
The hospital, located close to St Paul's Cathedral in central London, has general medical wards, a cancer centre and a specialist heart centre too
Barts Heart Centre has state-of-the-art facilities, including 10 operating theatres, critical care beds and scanning capabilities
It offers NHS services as well as private care
It is based in the main hospital's King George V building and is Europe's largest specialised cardiovascular centre
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The Prince of Wales visited his father at King Edward VII's Hospital, the weekend after his admission.

Members of the Royal Family, including the Queen, have continued with their official duties during the duke's hospital stay.

media caption"We'll keep our fingers crossed": Camilla gave an update to staff at a vaccination centre
The Duchess of Cornwall gave an update on Prince Philip's condition when she visited a Covid vaccination centre in Croydon on Wednesday.

When a volunteer asked about the duke, Camilla said: "We heard today that he's slightly improving. So, that's very good news. We'll keep our fingers crossed."

The duke has received treatment for other health conditions over the years, including a bladder infection in 2012 and exploratory surgery on his abdomen in June 2013.

He retired from royal duties in 2017.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in Balmoral Castle's library in 1976
IMAGE COPYRIGHT@ROYALFAMILY
Meanwhile, the Royal Family's Twitter feed has issued a photograph of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at Balmoral Castle in 1976 to mark World Book Day.

The palace update on Prince Philip's hospital treatment came days before Oprah Winfrey's interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex airs on US television.