Prince Philip misses Easter mass after being hospitalized for hip surgery
Just days after Britain's Prince Phillip did not appear at the family's Easter service, Buckingham Palace announced Tuesday that the 96-year-old has been hospitalized in London ahead of hip surgery scheduled the next day.
“His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London this afternoon, for planned surgery on his hip which will take place tomorrow," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
The news comes after the Duke of Edinburgh missed his third engagement in just 10 days when he pulled out of the Royal's Easter church service on Sunday that was attended by Queen Elizabeth and other royals.
The Duke, who turns 97 in June was also due to attend the annual Maundy Service last Thursday at St. George's Chapel Chapel with Queen Elizabeth but canceled at the last minute due to a problem with his hip.
Initially, the condition was not thought to be serious as he was spotted driving on the Windsor Castle grounds as recently as last week. In March, Philip also withdrew from a planned appearance with his son, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, at Windsor Castle to mark Andrew's role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, which he is taking over from Philip.
The Duke of Edinburgh retired from royal duties last summer but still makes appearances with the royal family. By the time of his retirement, Philip had completed 22,219 solo engagements since 1952, gave 5,496 speeches in his travels to more than 76 countries, authored 14 books, served as patron to 785 organizations and made 637 solo overseas visits, Buckingham Palace said.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attends the official opening ceremony of the Queensferry Crossing, on September 4, 2017 in South Queensferry, Scotland. Scotland's newest road bridge which began construction in 2011, crosses the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh. The crossing is the world's longest three tower cable-stayed bridge. (Photo by Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Prince Philip has been hospitalized a couple of times in the last 10 years.
His last hospitalization was in June 2017 when Buckingham Palace announced he had been hospitalized because he was going to miss the State opening of Parliament he attended annually with Queen Elizabeth.
In 2013, the royal household said Philip had been admitted to the hospital for exploratory surgery after his doctors revealed that it was necessary following “abdominal investigations."
During Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June 2012, Philip was hospitalized for a bladder infection just before his 91st birthday.
In December 2011, the prince suffered chest pains and had minor surgery to open a blocked artery.
In October 2007, it was revealed that the prince had been suffering from a heart condition since 1992. Philip is currently expected to attend Harry and Markle's May 19 wedding at St. George's Chapel with other members of the royal family.