Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip had to miss the royals’ traditional Christmas pheasant shoot yesterday after a third night in hospital recovering from heart surgery.
Philip... has become a national institution – almost as much for his often brusque nature as for his support for the Queen
Prince Philip, 90, was forced to miss the royal Christmas celebrations for the first time after he was rushed to hospital on Friday complaining of chest pains and had an emergency procedure to unblock a coronary artery.
He was given a festive boost on Sunday with a Christmas Day visit from grandsons Prince William and Harry and four other of his eight grandchildren.
Prince Philip is said by aides to be eager to leave the Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire, eastern England, but no date for his release has been given.
He usually leads the royal family’s shoot at their Sandringham country estate, held on Boxing Day.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said on Sunday: “The Duke is in good spirits and will remain in hospital under observation for a short period.
“The Queen will continue to be briefed on his condition. We do not have details of a release date at this stage.”
The Queen visited her husband of 64 years at the hospital on Sunday after the royal family’s Christmas church service.
Later in the day, the prince’s grandchildren swept into the hospital, which lies 80 kilometres from Sandringham, in a fleet of cars.
Although Prince William’s wife Catherine appeared at the church service for the first time following their wedding in April, she did not go to the hospital.
Prince William, the 29-year-old second in line to the throne, was accompanied by Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, the children of the Queen’s daughter Princess Anne.
Prince Harry drove into the hospital in a separate car which also carried Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the daughters of the Queen’s second youngest son Prince Andrew.
The royals told hundreds of well-wishers who had gathered on Sunday to see them attend the Christmas morning service in the St Mary Magdalene church at Sandringham that Prince Philip’s condition was improving.
Prince William said his grandfather was “very well, thank you. Getting much better”, while Prince Charles added that Prince Philip was “very well”. Prince Philip earlier told doctors he felt “fine” and didn’t want to “make a fuss”, adding: “I just want to go home,” according to reports.
The Greek-born Philip is the longest serving royal consort in British history and has become a national institution – almost as much for his often brusque nature as for his support for the Queen.
Despite his age, he remains active and travelled with the 85-year-old Queen to Australia in October. However, he has reduced his public engagements this year.
The operation he had involves fitting a mesh sleeve fitted over a sausage-shaped balloon into the artery.
The sleeve, or stent, remains fixed in position inside the body when the balloon is removed and opens up the artery to remove the blockage.
The prince is in good hands – Papworth is Britain’s largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and the country’s main heart and lung transplant centre.
Next year is a big one for the Queen as she celebrates her diamond jubilee marking 60 years on the British throne.