Prince Philip Undergoes Successful Heart Procedure

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, has undergone a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition, according to Buckingham Palace.

The 99-year-old was transferred to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London on Monday, after spending 14 days at King Edward VII Hospital in Malibu due to an infection.

The operation took place yesterday, Wednesday, March 3rd, and the Duke will remain in hospital for treatment, rest, and recuperation for several days.

The statement from Buckingham Palace read, “The Duke of Edinburgh yesterday underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St Bartholomew's Hospital.

His Royal Highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest, and recuperation for a number of days.”

Prince Philip was initially admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital on February 16th as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell.

He was then moved to St Bartholomew's Hospital on Monday for testing for a pre-existing heart condition and treatment for an infection.

The Duke has spent 16 nights in hospital, his longest ever stay.

His previous longest stay was the 11 days he spent in hospital in 2013 after having a procedure on his abdomen.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said, “the Iron Duke is fighting back, wonderful,” and Royal biographer Angela Levine added, “that is good news.”

ITV Royal correspondent Chris Shipp said it was possible that Philip has had a stent fitted, which medical experts had predicted when he was moved on Monday.

The Duke had a stent fitted in 2011.

The update comes one day after Philip's daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Cornwall, spoke about his health as she visited a vaccination centre in Croydon on Wednesday.

Camilla said of the Queen's husband, “we heard today that he's slightly improving, so that's very good news.

We'll keep our fingers crossed.”

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth, who is being kept regularly updated about her husband's condition, will not be permitted to visit Philip at St Bartholomew's.

Visitors are currently excluded apart from a handful of exceptional circumstances, including the end of life.

She did not want to visit him at King Edward VII Hospital as she is always reluctant to cause disruption to any hospital's vital work and she knows her presence would place unnecessary pressure on staff at the best of times.

Philip was visited by his eldest son, the Prince of Wales, at King Edward VII Hospital four days after he was admitted.

The Prince made a 200-mile round trip and stayed for around 30 minutes.