Britain’s Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s 99-year-old husband, is recovering from “successful” heart surgery, Buckingham Palace said Thursday.
“The Duke of Edinburgh underwent successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital yesterday,” said the palace, using Philip’s formal title.
“His Royal Highness will remain in the hospital for several days for treatment, rest and recovery,” the statement said.
Philip – who will turn 100 in June – has been hospitalized since February 16, when he was admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital in London as a “precautionary measure”.
He was initially treated for an infection, but was transferred Monday to St. Bartholomew’s, a specialized heart hospital.
It wasn’t immediately clear which heart condition was being treated during this week’s surgery, but Philip has had issues with his ticker in the past.
In 2011, he was taken to a hospital by helicopter after experiencing chest pain and was treated for a blocked coronary artery.
Since his hospitalization, the Duke has received only public visits from his son and heir Prince Charles.
The Queen, 94, has stayed at Windsor Castle, where she and Philip stayed during the coronavirus pandemic, and continued her official duties on video last week.
The couple received COVID-19 vaccinations in January and Philips disease is said to be unrelated to the coronavirus.
Philip, the longest-serving royal consort in British history, married then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947. They have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
With pole wires