LONDON – Queen Elizabeth II’s 96-year-old husband Prince Philip lefthospital on Friday following a successful hip replacement operation lastweek, officials said.
“The Duke of Edinburgh left King Edward VII’s Hospital at midday today,following a hip replacement operation last week,” Buckingham Palace said ina statement. “The Duke will continue his recovery at Windsor (royalresidence).”
Philip, who is best known for his mischievous sense of humourlink>,forthright manner and off-colour jokes, formally retired from public lifelast year but has attended some royal engagements since then.
He was admitted to the private hospital in London on April 3 for plannedsurgery and operated on the following day.
Buckingham Palace said last week that the operation was successful and theduke was “comfortable and in good spirits”. Daughter Princess Anne was theonly member of the family seen visiting the royal patriarch in hospital.
Prince Philip was forced to miss Easter religious services due to theproblem with his hip and has had various health complaints in recent years.