Prince Philip, 99, to stay in hospital 'until next week' with no visitors allowed

by · mirror

Prince Philip will reportedly remain in hospital for several more days taking his stay beyond the weekend into next week.

The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted on Tuesday night and is expected to stay for a "period of rest and recuperation" for several days.

The Queen’s husband, 99, is spending another night under observation despite Buckingham Palace insisting his stay was a “precautionary measure”.

But with the country under strict lockdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic visitors would only be allowed inside under exceptional circumstances.

The Sun reports that an unnamed source said: “Everyone loves a visitor when they are feeling low in hospital but the Duke will be extremely stoic about it.

The couple have been staying at Windsor being looked after by a reduced household (Image: Getty Images)

“He knows the nation is sending their thoughts and prayers. The Duke has been in HMS Bubble for almost a year so he is used to all kinds of restrictions.

“He has barely been able to see his family for the past year. He knows only too well people have been going through worse than him.”

The monarch and the Duke have spent the majority of the past 11 months locked inside Windsor Castle, keeping them safe from the coronavirus disease responsible for the deaths of more than 100,000 Brits.

Just weeks after the Queen and Prince Philip last month received their first covid-19 vaccination, Buckingham Palace confirmed the Duke’s illness is "not Covid-related”.

It is not known whether his hospital stay is related to a pre-existing condition.

Bosses at the King Edward VII's Hospital, in central London, had long prepared for such an event (Image: REUTERS)
He is expected to remain in hospital for a few days (Image: REUTERS)

Doctors working for the royal household have been given guarantees that the strictest of precautions are being followed, with all patients tested before admission and in their private rooms.

Bosses at the King Edward VII's Hospital, in central London, had long prepared for such an event and already had a well established “open channel” of communication with the royal household, it is understood.

The couple have been staying at Windsor being looked after by a reduced household of around 20 staff dubbed HMS Bubble.

It has also emerged that Prince Harry is making plans to hastily return to the UK should his grandfather's condition worsen and is being kept "regularly informed" of developments.

The Duke of Sussex has already made arrangements to fly over from the US by private jet and is understood to be self-isolating at home with Meghan and Archie to ensure he can travel straight away.