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The 99-year-old Prince Philip of Britain has been admitted to a hospital in London after feeling unwell, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday.
The palace said Queen Elizabeth II’s husband was admitted to private King Edward VII Hospital on Tuesday night.
It called the admission “a precautionary measure” taken on the advice of Philips doctor. The palace said Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, is expected to stay for a few days of ‘observation and rest’.
His illness is believed to be unrelated to COVID-19. The Queen and Philip received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine in early January.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said he is “giving his best wishes to the Duke of Edinburgh while undergoing a few days’ rest in the hospital”.
Philip retired in 2017 and rarely appears in public. His most recent public event was a military ceremony at Buckingham Palace in July.
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During the current confinement of the coronavirus in England, the Duke stayed at Windsor Castle, west of London, with the Queen, who has performed tasks such as meeting with remote dignitaries.
Lockdown permits, the royal family plans celebrations to celebrate Philips’ 100th birthday on June 10.
Philip married then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947 and is the longest-serving royal consort in British history. He and the queen have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A former naval officer and avid polo player, Philip enjoyed robust health well into old age, but has suffered a number of health problems in recent years.
In 2011, he was taken to a hospital by helicopter after suffering chest pain and treated for a blocked coronary artery. In 2017, he spent two nights at King Edward VII Hospital and in 2018 he was hospitalized for 10 days for hip replacement.
Philip was last hospitalized in December 2019 and spent four nights at King Edward VII Hospital for what the palace said was planned treatment for a pre-existing condition.
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He had to stop driving at the age of 97 after crashing into a car while driving a Land Rover near Sandringham Estate in January 2019. Philip needed help getting out of the Land Rover, but he was not injured. A woman in the other vehicle suffered a broken wrist.
Even after that, Philip continued to ride a horse and buggy on private property from time to time.
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