Buckingham Palace says Prince Philip, 99, has undergone a ’ ‘successful’ heart procedure

Buckingham Palace has released an update on Prince Philip’s condition and it’s good news for the 99-year-old royal.

Prince Philip has undergone a successful heart operation in London, as his stay in hospital stretches into a 17th night.

After weeks of playing down his illness, Buckingham Palace has now revealed that the Duke of Edinburgh’s condition was more serious than previously thought.

The duke, 99, was likely to remain at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London at least until the weekend.

Prince Philip had a stent inserted into an artery in his heart in 2011, which is a relatively minor operation.

However, the exact nature of the procedure this week was not revealed.

Prince Philip has undergone a successful heart procedure. Picture: Getty Images

“The Duke of Edinburgh yesterday underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St Bartholomew’s Hospital,” a statement on Thursday said.

“His Royal Highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days.”

St Bartholomew’s is a heart and cancer specialist hub, caring for some of the British capital’s most seriously ill patients.

Prince Philip’s daughter-in-law Camilla had earlier said that he was “slightly improving” during a visit to a COVID-19 vaccination centre in Croydon, south London.

A well-placed microphone picked up the duchess telling a member of the public he was “slightly improving” when asked about his condition on Wednesday local time.

And she added that Prince Philip “hurts at moments.”

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has commented on the health of Prince Philip during her visit to a vaccination centre in London, England. Picture: Philip Hartley-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Echoing words last week from Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest son, Camilla said: “We keep our fingers crossed.”

A heavy police presence has been set up outside the hospital, with London metropolitan police monitoring the street.

There has been a large media contingent, with more than a dozen TV cameras set up outside waiting for any news on the duke’s condition.

American outlets also have vans parked in nearby streets to send footage back to the United States.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at Westminster Abbey. Picture: AFP Photo

The Queen, 94, has continued with her engagements this week and it was unlikely that she would visit her husband of 73 years in hospital.

Sources said that Her Majesty would be aware of the disruption her visit would cause and the extra security that would be needed.

The hospital has restricted patients because of the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed more than 120,000 lives in the UK.

A sign out the front of the hospital points staff and patients towards different entrances to minimise contacts.

The streets around the hospital, near London’s financial and business district, remain deserted with most people still working from home.

Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was moved from one hospital to another for treatment. Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images

Prince Philip was moved from Marylebone’s King Edward VII Hospital on Monday to St Bartholomew’s.

His exit was covered by staff holding umbrellas, and a police van also attempted to block the view of cameras.

St Bartholomew’s is a public, or National Health Service, hospital but is considered the best in London for heart health.

The hospital’s website says that it was rated “outstanding” for surgery and critical care, however, exact details of the duke’s treatment have not been released.

Prince Charles left King Edward VII’s hospital in tears on the first weekend that his father was in care, sparking serious questions about the duke’s condition.

Prince Philip is due to turn 100 on June 10.

Prince Philip, who walked into hospital on February 16, has been battling an infection.

His son Prince Charles, 72, left in tears after he visited him on his first weekend in hospital.

That visit raised serious questions about his health, which appear to now, in some part, be answered.

99-year-old Prince Philip has entered his third week in hospital for ongoing medical issues. Picture: Victoria Jones/Getty

There were reports other members of the Royal Family may visit in the coming days.

Buckingham Palace said on Monday in a statement: “The Duke of Edinburgh was today 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.”

Prince William and Prince Edward, the duke and Queen’s youngest son, had last week tried to play down his condition.

Prince Philip was treated for heart problems in 2011 and was taken to hospital via helicopter from Sandringham to Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire.

That scare, which required that he have a stent inserted in an artery, was shortly before Christmas that year.

Hospital and palace staff co-ordinated the transfer of Prince Philip to King Edward VII's Hospital in central London on Monday. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas / AFP

The Queen, their children and grandchildren visited during his four-night stay, which saw him spend Christmas and Boxing Day in hospital.

The duke also spent four nights in hospital in December 2019 for a “pre-existing condition”, which at the time was not disclosed but may also have been related to his heart.

Another hospital stay in 2017 was blamed on a similar vague “pre-existing condition”.

St Bartholomew’s is an internationally renowned hospital and Barts Heart Centre is Europe’s largest specialised cardiovascular service and a centre of excellence for both cardiac and cancer care.

ROYALS ‘PLEAD’ WITH HARRY

Prince Harry has been desperately urged to delay the airing of an interview with Oprah as his grandfather Prince Philip enters his third week in hospital.

The television special, expected to be a royal wrecking ball, has “appalled” some senior figures.

The chat, due to air in the United States on March 7, when Prince Philip will likely still be hooked up to heart monitors.

He was moved to London’s best heart hospital, with Buckingham Palace revealing for the first time that this latest hospital stay was heart related.

Palace insiders have urged Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex to hold off on airing their Oprah interview until Prince Philip is out of the woods. Picture: CBS

Prince Harry and Meghan’s sit down interview with Oprah was already thought to be uncomfortable viewing for the Royal Family.

The program was extended from 90 minutes to two hours, which in part was seen as a cash grab by broadcaster CBS, which is charging $250,000 for a 30-second advertisement slot.

But the timing of the interview, for which the couple were not paid, has raised serious questions about Prince Harry’s judgment.

Penny Junor, who wrote a biography on Prince Harry, told The Sun: “It’s bad timing when they’re going to be saying ‘poor us’.”

And a senior royal source told the newspaper: “Why are they doing it?”

The last time Prince Harry and Meghan did a wide ranging television interview with a British broadcaster ITV the fallout was nuclear.

Meghan was seen as criticising the Queen when she suggested not many people had asked if she was okay.

Prince Harry has always enjoyed a close relationship with his grandfather, Prince Philip. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty

And Prince Harry, according to previews, used the Oprah interview to criticise the British Press and claim that Meghan was being treated unfairly in the same way as his late mother, Princess Diana, had been.

He was expected to be asked about the loss of his military titles in the Oprah interview, which reportedly upset him greatly.

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