LONDON (AP) – Prince Philip has had a successful heart process at a London hospital and is expected to stay for several days of “rest and healing,” Buckingham Palace said Thursday.
The palace said Queen Elizabeth II’s 99-year-old husband had “gone through a successful process for a previous heart condition at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.”
“His Royal Highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest and treatment for several days,” the palace said in a statement.
Philip, 99, has been in hospital since being 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 special heart care hospital, St. Bartholomew’s.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, said Wednesday that Philip’s situation was “getting a little better.” ”
“We’ll keep our fingers crossed,” said Camilla, who is married to Prince Charles, Philip and the queen’s eldest son.
Philip ‘s disease is not believed to be related to the coronavirus. Both Philip and the monarch received COVID-19 vaccines in January and chose to publish the case to encourage others to take the vaccine.
Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, retired in 2017 and rarely appears in public. Prior to his hospitalization, Philip had been alone at Windsor Castle, west London, with the queen.
Although he enjoyed good health well into old age, Philip has had heart problems before. In 2011, he was airlifted to hospital after suffering chest pain and was treated for a blocked coronary artery.
The longest royal companion in British history, Philip married Princess Elizabeth at the time in 1947. He and the queen have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
His illness comes when the royal family is showering for an Oprah Winfrey broadcast interview with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan and her husband Prince Harry stopped royal duties last year and moved to California, citing what they described as the inaccessible pressures and racist views of the British media.
The relationship between the couple and the palace seems to be becoming increasingly tense. On Wednesday, the palace said it was launching a human resources audit after a newspaper reported that a former supporter had accused Meghan of bullying staff in 2018.
In an excerpt from the pre-recorded Winfrey interview, released by CBS, Winfrey asks Meghan how she feels about the palace “hearing you speak your truth today? ”
“I don’t know how they would expect after this time that we would remain silent if the company played an active role in becoming increasingly deceptive about us,” the Duchess said. say.
“The Firm” is a nickname for the royal family, sometimes used with respect and sometimes with a critical note.