Duke’s progress ‘satisfactory’ after operation

Buckingham Palace last night said the results of yesterday’s operation would now be analysed while Prince Philip recovered at The London Clinic, where he was admitted on Thursday evening.

The Palace said in a short statement that the Duke was comfortable, adding: “His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has had an exploratory operation following abdominal investigations. The results will now be analysed.

“At this early stage he is progressing satisfactorily. Further updates will continue to be issued when appropriate.”

Philip, who is 92 on Monday, was admitted after his appearance at a garden party where he laughed and joked with guests and appeared in good spirits.

He now faces up to two weeks in hospital as he recovers from the operation, which is his third hospital admittance in 12 months.

Details about the Duke’s condition or the original symptoms that prompted the operation have not been released by Buckingham Palace. But it thought the operation did not involve his heart or bladder, organs the Duke has experienced problems with before.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said the operation, which was carried out under general anaesthetic, was a planned admission following investigations carried out over the past week, and emphasised that the Duke “is in very good health”.

The Duke pulled out of an official engagement at the palace on Monday after temporarily losing his voice, the Palace said, an illness not thought to be connected with the operation.

Yesterday, as she officially opened the BBC’s new £1bn broadcasting house in London, the Queen maintained Prince Philip was “not ill”.

When asked how her husband was by Radio 4 Today presenter John Humphrys the Queen replied: “I don’t know.”

The broadcaster added that the Duke looked well during his appearance at Thursday’s Buckingham Palace garden party, and the monarch responded: “That’s because he’s not ill.”

Peter Phillips, the Duke’s eldest grandson, said the family were being informed about his grandfather’s progress.

He said: “Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with him; we know that he’s in good hands and we’ve been kept up to date in terms of what’s happening. But he’s one of those people who wouldn’t want you to stop just because he’s gone into hospital.”

Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the Duke during his visit to Scotland yesterday. He said: “The Duke of Edinburgh is held in the highest esteem by people right across our country.

“He’s an extraordinarily dedicated public servant and such an enormous support for our sovereign that I know the whole country will be thinking about him, thinking about the family and wishing him well.”

Celebrities and the BBC’s director general Tony Hall heaped praise on the Queen for honouring her engagement’s despite her husband’s operation.

Mr Hall said: “I think she’s brilliant, the way she carries on, she’s fantastic.”

The Queen was said to look relaxed and at ease during her visit and appeared to enjoy meeting celebrities including Sir Bruce Forsyth, David Dimbleby and Professor Mary Beard.

Sir Bruce said it was a “great shame” the Duke could not attend the opening due to being in hospital, adding: “This building would have meant an awful lot to him.”

Actress Jenny Agutter said: “I think the Queen coming here shows that she can do it on her own, she’s done that before, but she was prepared to come without her consort.”

Host of Strictly Come Dancing Tess Daly said her thoughts were with the Duke: “I wish him a speedy recovery and a full recovery. I’m sure the Queen wants him back home as soon as possible.”

The Queen was taken on an extensive tour of the revamped Broadcasting House.

In her short address on the World Service, she said: “I hope this new building will serve you well for the future and I am delighted to declare it open today.”

As he recovers the Duke is likely to miss two staples of the royal calendar, Trooping the Colour on June 15 and Royal Ascot the following week.