ROYAL TREATMENT
How is Prince Philip? Latest news as the royal, 98, is discharged from hospital to spend Christmas at Sandringham
PRINCE Philip will be spending Christmas with the Queen at Sandringham after a recent health scare.
THE Duke of Edinburgh spent three nights as the private, King Edward VII hospital in Marylebone, London - but what was wrong with him and is he okay now?
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How is Prince Philip?
The Duke of Edinburgh, who turned 98 in June, has generally enjoyed good health.
He appeared to recover well from a planned hip replacement operation in April 2018.
But, he was admitted into King Edward VII's Hospital in central London for treatment relating to a "pre-existing condition" in the week before Christmas.
According to reports, his admission followed a spell of ill-health.
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The Sun quoted a royal source saying the duke had a fall recently, while the reported he had been battling a flu-like condition.
Prince Philip escaped with minor injuries after a dramatic car crash near Sandringham in January 2019, but in the past decade has been admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery, bladder infections and a blocked coronary artery.
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What has the Palace said about Prince Philip's illness?
On Friday (December 20), Buckingham Palace said: "The Duke of Edinburgh travelled from Norfolk this morning to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition.
"The admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness's doctor."
The palace would not go into details about Prince Philip's pre-existing condition, or the nature of his treatment.
But there is concern for the Duke among well-wishers, given the royal's age.
His decision to retire from public duties during 2017 was not health-related, Buckingham Palace said two years ago.
The Duke is an advocate of healthy eating combined with exercise.
He once said he more or less followed the Atkins diet and he drinks only moderately.
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When was Prince Philip admitted to hospital?
Prince Philip was taken to hospital for a "pre-existing condition" on December 20, as the rest of the family made their way to Sandringham.
His admission comes almost a year after the fiercely independent Prince somehow survived a nasty car crash in January 2019.
The Queen did not change her schedule and left Buckingham Palace for Norfolk by train, to begin her traditional festive break at her private Sandringham estate, where the Duke spends much of his time since retiring from public duties.
She was pictured with great-grandson George, Prince Charles and the Duke of Cambridge, preparing special Christmas puddings at Buckingham Palace.
Four generations of the royal family came together in December 2019 to support the Royal British Legion's 'Together at Christmas' initiative.
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LATEST ON PRINCE PHILIP
Did the royal family visit Prince Philip in hospital?
The Duke did not want the royals coming to visit him in hospital.
A source told The Sun: "The Duke doesn't want any fuss. He doesn't want the family coming to see him in hospital.
"He wants to be in and out with minimal disruption to any festive plans and he certainly doesn't want the family to spend time at Christmas traipsing to his sick bed."
Fortunately, he was discharged after a three-night stay.
Prince Philip taken to hospital as a 'precautionary measure' in relation to a pre-existing condition
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