Prince Philip back in hospital

The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to hospital yesterday with a recurrence of the bladder infection he had in the summer, Buckingham Palace said.

Prince Philip was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary while staying with the Queen at her Balmoral retreat, a spokesman said.

In a statement the palace said: “The Duke of Edinburgh has had a recurrence of the bladder infection that he had in the summer and has been admitted to hospital for investigation and treatment. His Royal Highness is likely to remain there for the next few days.”

The 91-year-old royal made the journey of almost 50 miles from the castle in the Cairngorms to the city hospital by road in an ambulance, the palace said.

Prince Philip’s latest health scare came two-and-a-half months after he spent five nights in hospital with a bladder infection following the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames.

He was forced to miss some of the celebrations for his wife’s 60 years on the throne after he was admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in central London the day after braving the elements on a barge for several hours.

Prince Philip also underwent a successful procedure to clear a blocked coronary artery last December and was in hospital for four nights over Christmas.