Prince Philip Nears a Month in Hospital & Fans Worry about Lack of Health Updates from Royals
99-year-old Prince Philip was admitted to the hospital over a month ago, and the lack of updates about his health has started to raise concerns amongst royal fans.
Prince Philip was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital, a private hospital in London, on February 16, 2021, and has since been transferred to St Bartholomew’s, where he underwent heart surgery.
The Duke of Edinburgh is still in the hospital, and his lengthy stay without any updates from Buckingham Palace has fans worried about Queen Elizabeth's husband.
Prince Philip at a Christmas lunch for members of the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace on December 19, 2018 | Getty Images
SPARSE UPDATES
Sparse details surrounding Prince Philip's surgery and his condition have been released in the last month. Besides the information that the cardiac surgery was successful and that he is back at King Edward VII Hospital, very little is known.
Fans have taken to social media to share their worries about the Duke of Edinburgh's health amidst the silence from the palace and their prayers for the royal during his stay in hospital. One fan tweeted:
"@RoyalFamily Why aren’t we getting updates on Prince Phillip? Is he OK?"
PRECAUTIONARY ADMISSION
Prince Philip was originally admitted to the hospital in London as a precaution. The royal had been feeling ill for several days before being transported to King Edward VII Hospital in the middle of February.
January 2019 saw the royal in a car accident, which resulted in him giving up his driver's license.
The expectation was that the Duke of Edinburgh was to remain under doctors' supervision for a few days. Later, news broke that he was moved to the cardiac specialization hospital, where he underwent heart surgery.
VISITATIONS
Prince Philip was visited by his son, 72-year-old Prince Charles, who was seen entering King Edward VII Hospital through the back entrance.
The heir to the throne was seen wearing a grey suit and face mask as he entered the hospital to visit his ill father. Upon being admitted, the palace emphasized that Prince Philip's admission was not an emergency as the statement read:
"The doctor is acting with an abundance of caution. The Duke remains in good spirits."
HEALTH ISSUES
This isn't the Duke of Edinburgh's first visit to the health facility, as he has been admitted for several health issues in the past. Prince Philip was treated for a blocked artery in 2011 and a bladder infection in 2012.
January 2019 saw the royal in a car accident, which resulted in him giving up his driver's license. He exited the car unscathed, but the person in the other car was left with a broken wrist.
The Duke of Edinburgh's health issues has coincided with the release of his grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The couple told of racist comments that came from within the royal family but have since confirmed that it was neither Queen Elizabeth nor Prince Philip who were involved.