Prince Philip Responding to Treatment for Infection but Expected to Remain in Hospital for Several Days

Buckingham Palace has issued an update on the health of the Duke of Edinburgh, who has been hospitalized for a week.

According to the statement released on Tuesday, Prince Philip is responding well to medical treatment for an infection.

However, he is not expected to be discharged from King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, central London, for several days.

The 99-year-old prince was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday after feeling unwell.

Although it was not an emergency admission, his stay was extended throughout the weekend.

He walked into the hospital without any assistance.

The palace's statement read, “The Duke of Edinburgh remains at King Edward VII Hospital where he is receiving medical attention for an infection.

He is comfortable and responding to treatment but is not expected to leave hospital for several days.”

It was also confirmed that the prince was not being treated for anything related to COVID-19, as he and the Queen have already received their first doses of the vaccine.

On Monday, Prince William, Philip's grandson, provided a brief update on his grandfather's health during a visit to a vaccination center in Norfolk.

The prince said that his grandfather was doing okay.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward, the youngest son of the Queen and Prince Philip, spoke to Sky News and said that his father was looking forward to getting out of the hospital.

He also joked that the Duke might be frustrated at being confined to a hospital room.

Over the weekend, Prince Charles, Philip and the Queen's oldest son, visited his father in the hospital for about 30 minutes.

Reports suggest that he wanted to see his father because of the extended stay.

Royal author Penny Junor commented on Philip's no-fuss attitude and joked that he might be a tricky patient.

She said, “This is a man who doesn't want any fuss made of his 100th birthday, so the fact he's in hospital and getting some fuss made of him will really irritate him.”

Junor also speculated that Charles might have visited his father to talk about Harry, as “momentous things are happening in the family at the moment.”

However, she clarified that she did not know the reason for the visit.

This is not the first time that Prince Philip has been hospitalized.

He spent four nights in the hospital in December 2019 and nine days in April 2018 after a planned hip operation.

In June 2013, he spent 11 days in the hospital after an exploratory operation on his abdomen.

He was discharged after two months of recuperation in Sandringham.

The Duke of Edinburgh has been married to Queen Elizabeth II for over 70 years and has been a constant presence by her side throughout her reign.

Despite his retirement from public duties in 2017, he remains an important figure in the royal family.