THE Royal Family is today “united in prayers” after Prince Philip was moved to a specialist hospital for treatment for an infection and heart condition.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, was transferred to St Bartholomew’s in London where he will stay until at least the end of the week, Buckingham Palace revealed on Monday.
Follow our Prince Philip live blog for the very latest on the Duke…
The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family are ‘united in prayers’ for Prince Philip
He has moved hospital while he undergoes tests for a pre-existing heart condition
Now the Mirror reports the Prince’s nearest and dearest are pulling together amid his ongoing health crisis.
One source was quoted as saying: “The staff and all the Royal Family are united in their prayers for the Duke.
“There has been an almighty and collective effort to keep him and the Queen safe during the coronavirus crisis over the past 11 months.”
However the insider added there had been “a significant shift in the mood when everyone started finding out the Duke wasn’t coming home any time soon.”
“Everyone’s thoughts are now firmly centred on him pulling through this illness,” the source then reportedly added.
It comes as…
- Prince Philip ‘asked Charles to visit him in hospital to talk about the future’, claims Queen’s former press secretary
- Harry and Meghan Oprah interview: Prince hints he left UK as he feared Duchess would suffer same fate as Diana
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry launch new Archewell logo with the word ‘service’ after cruel jibe at Queen
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview extended to TWO hour special as Oprah reveals ‘no subject is off limits’
- The hard-working Queen managed to crack jokes as she carried on with her royal duties
The Duke will undergo testing for his heart problem at the hospital, which is one of the country’s leading specialist cardiac centres.
The Palace said: “The Duke of Edinburgh was transferred from King Edward VII’s Hospital to St Bartholomew’s Hospital where doctors will continue to treat him for an infection, as well as undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition.
“The Duke remains comfortable and is responding to treatment but is expected to remain in hospital until at least the end of the week.”
Philip was pictured leaving London’s King Edward VII clinic in an ambulance this morning as police guarded his way.
A police van was used to protect the Duke from being photographed, while staff shielded his way with umbrellas.
Philip has so far spent a total of 13 nights being cared for by medics – his longest ever stay in hospital.
Buckingham Palace previously said the Duke, who is just three months away from his 100th birthday, walked into the hospital unaided and received medical attention for an infection.
And in an update last Tuesday, the Palace said: “He is comfortable and responding to treatment but is not expected to leave hospital for several days.”
The visit is Philip’s longest stay in hospital since June 2013 when he had an exploratory operation on his abdomen.
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan were last night urged to think of the poorly Prince and delay the broadcast of their much-heralded Oprah TV chat.
Staff shield the exit with umbrellas alongside an ambulance outside the rear of the King Edward VII Hospital in London where the Duke has spent 13 days
The Duke left hospital in a car in 2019
Cops created a path for the ambulance to drive through
Two trailers promising “shocking” royal revelations were released as the frail Duke, 99, moved hospital
Earlier this week Prince Edward said he had spoken to his father on the phone, who was “looking forward to getting out”.
He told Sky: “As far as I’m aware, well I did speak to them the other day, so he’s a lot better thank you very much indeed, and he’s looking forward to getting out, which is the most positive thing.
“So we keep our fingers crossed.”
Asked whether Philip was frustrated to be in hospital, Edward laughed and replied: “Just a bit.
“I think that gets to all of us, and then, you can only watch the clock so many times and the walls are only so interesting.”
The Earl of Wessex added: “We’ve had some brilliant and lovely messages from all sorts of people and we really appreciate that and so does he, I’ve been passing them on.
Police officers and security guards as the ambulance leaves the rear of the King Edward VII Hospital
Members of the press stood by as an ambulance left the hospital this morning
Prince Charles visited his dad the weekend before last
“It’s fantastic, thank you.”
Meanwhile, Prince Charles visited his father the weekend before last, looking sombre as he left.
It is understood Charles wanted to visit his father due to his extended stay.
And it is thought Charles had not seen his father since before Christmas because of the nationwide coronavirus restrictions.
Philip and the Queen stayed at Windsor Castle instead of hosting the usual family Christmas at Sandringham.
