Queen Elizabeth II visited her husband Prince Philip in hospital yesterday, where he is recovering from the bladder infection that forced him to miss her final Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The Queen entered London’s King Edward VII Hospital in London clad in the same lavender jacket she wore earlier for lunch with heads of state and government from across the Commonwealth.

The royal couple’s third child Prince Andrew entered the hospital half an hour later. The Queen stayed around 50 minutes before leaving the hospital again.

Buckingham Palace said Prince Philip’s condition had “improved considerably” since Monday, but that the outspoken 90-year-old would probably remain in hospital for several more days.

Prince Philip, the longest-serving royal consort in British history, has been the queen’s stalwart companion throughout her reign and his absence cast a shadow over Tuesday’s final festivities marking her 60th year on the throne.

The Prince, who turns 91 on Sunday, was taken to hospital just hours before last Monday’s spectacular jubilee pop concert at Buckingham Palace, which he had been due to attend with the Queen.

The thousands of patriotic revellers at the concert, which featured Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Elton John, chanted “Philip! Philip!” after heir to the throne Prince Charles urged them to show their support.

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