Britain’s Prince Philip hospitalised for ‘exploratory’ surgery

Prince Philip, the 91-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II, was admitted to hospital on Thursday for “exploratory” surgery and is likely to stay there for two weeks, Buckingham Palace said.

“His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted to the London Clinic for an exploratory operation following abdominal investigations,” a statement said.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman later said he was “in very good health” and that the operation would be conducted under general anaesthetic.

Doctors have carried out tests over the last week, and decided he should undergo a laparotomy on Friday, according to British press reports.

This requires a large incision to be made through the abdominal wall in order to look for abnormalities including tumours, explaining the lengthy recuperation period.

The duke, who turns 92 on Monday, was hospitalised twice last year for a bladder infection that forced him to miss the last of the queen’s huge diamond jubilee celebrations.