Edward upbeat over Duke’s health after making hospital visit

Philip, 90, is suffering from a bladder infection and was taken to the King Edward VII Hospital from Windsor Castle on Monday as a precautionary measure.

The illness forced him to miss several events from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex arrived at the London hospital at 3.15pm yesterday, arriving in two separate vehicles, and stayed for just under half an hour.

As he left the hospital, Edward told the huge pack of Press outside: “He’s getting better, he just needs some rest.”

Asked if the Duke had been keeping up with Jubilee celebrations, he said: “He’s been watching it on TV.”

And asked how the Queen was doing without him, he said: “She’s bearing up but she’s missing him, obviously.”

As he got into his Land Rover, he told reporters: “Thank you very much for your concern, it’s much appreciated.” The Countess added: “He’s in good spirits, he’s on good form.”

They took their children, Louise and James, with them.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said the Duke would remain in hospital under observation for a few days.

During Sunday’s river pageant, the Duke spent several hours on the Thames and clearly enjoyed seeing the flotilla despite torrential rain. However, some specialists have suggested that attending the pageant may have left him more vulnerable to the infection.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the Queen and Duke would not have missed the river pageant whatever the risk to their health.