Could Prince Charles’ decision to return to Highgrove be POSITIVE sign on Philip’s health? 

Prince Charles’ decision to return to Highgrove following his emotional visit to see the Duke of Edinburgh in a London hospital yesterday afternoon could be a sign that his father’s condition is stable.  

The Prince of Wales arrived at the back of King Edward VII’s hospital at around 3.30pm on Saturday to visit his father, but chose not to stay in London yesterday evening or head to Windsor, where the Queen is currently residing after the visit.  

Clarence House confirmed last night that the Prince of Wales did not stay in the capital and instead made the two-hour, 100-mile journey back to his Gloucestershire home, rather than choosing to remain close to the hospital or be with his mother in Windsor.     

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Prince Charles’ return to Highgrove following his 100-mile trip to London to visit his father could be a sign of optimism. He is pictured arriving at the rear entrance of King Edward VII hospital ahead of the visit 

Philip, pictured above in 2013, is expected to remain in hospital until next week. He was admitted on Tuesday after feeling unwell

Philip, pictured above in 2013, is expected to remain in hospital until next week. He was admitted on Tuesday after feeling unwell

The Palace reiterated to MailOnline today the statement made about the Duke’s health last week, saying the 99-year-old is likely to stay in hospital into next week, adding that all decisions have been taken with ‘an abundance of caution’.

Charles is the first member of the royal family to visit Philip; it’s thought the heir-to-the-throne spent, 72, spent around 30 minutes with his father. 

Charles arrived at the hospital at around 3.20pm on Saturday in a grey Tesla car, and exited the vehicle wearing a face mask, before leaving around 30 minutes later. 

The Prince appeared visibly emotional as he was driven away from the London hospital, which is currently only considering visitors in ‘exceptional circumstances’ due to the Covid pandemic.  

It is thought Charles had not seen his father since before Christmas because of the nationwide coronavirus restrictions, with the Duke staying at Windsor Castle with the Queen. 

Prince Charles, pictured following his visit to the Duke, made a 200-mile round trip to spend half an hour at Philip's side

Prince Charles, pictured following his visit to the Duke, made a 200-mile round trip to spend half an hour at Philip’s side 

Charles arrived at the back of the London hospital where Philip, the 99-year-old husband of his mother Queen Elizabeth, has been since Tuesday

Charles arrived at the back of the London hospital where Philip, the 99-year-old husband of his mother Queen Elizabeth, has been since Tuesday

Today is Philip’s sixth day in the private London facility and comes as the fallout from the news about Harry and Meghan’s departure from working royal life continues.

He is understood to have been aware the announcement on Harry and Meghan was due to be released yesterday.   

Royal author Penny Junor said of Philip: ‘We do all know he doesn’t like fuss, and he would regard a visit as fuss.’

She said she did not know the reason for the visit, but added: ‘Momentous things are happening in the family at the moment and I suppose it’s perfectly possible that Charles wanted to go and talk to his father and reassure him about Harry.’

His visit to the hospital to see his father comes a day after he appeared alongside his wife the Duchess of Cornwall in a video message to urge ethnic minorities ignore fake news and get their Covid jabs.

The Prince of Wales is pictured arriving at King Edward VII's hospital in London to visit his father the Duke of Edinburgh

The Prince of Wales is pictured arriving at King Edward VII’s hospital in London to visit his father the Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Charles is pictured sat in the front seat of his car and was wearing a disposable coronavirus face mask following his visit with Philip

Prince Charles is pictured sat in the front seat of his car and was wearing a disposable coronavirus face mask following his visit with Philip 

Charles who along with the Duchess of Cornwall, 73, has had his first coronavirus jab, told of his concern about the ‘variable uptake’ among black and Asian Britons.  

The prince, who spent much of the first lockdown at Birkhall in Scotland with the Duchess of Cornwall, spoke last year of not being able to see his father as coronavirus restrictions persisted.

He said in June 2020: ‘Well I haven’t seen my father for a long time. He’s going to be 99 next week, so yes, or my grandchildren or anything. 

‘I’ve been doing the FaceTime, is all very well but t isn’t the same, is it? You really want to give people a hug.’

At Christmas, Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen and Philip spent the holiday period together at Windsor, apart from the rest of the royal family. 

Prince Charles wore a grey suit and blue tie and was pictured being flanked by a protection officer as he got out of his car

Prince Charles wore a grey suit and blue tie and was pictured being flanked by a protection officer as he got out of his car

Prince Charles left the hospital shortly before 4pm, half an hour after arriving. He is the first member of the royal family to visit Philip during the duke's four-night stay in hospital

Prince Charles left the hospital shortly before 4pm, half an hour after arriving. He is the first member of the royal family to visit Philip during the duke’s four-night stay in hospital

The Queen had told Philip of Meghan and Harry’s decision to not return as working members of the Royal Family and the statement she was going to release on the development.  

Philip and Harry had always shared a close bond but a recent book suggested he had been left bewildered by his decision to walk away from the Royal Family.

Ingrid Seward, author of Prince Philip Revealed, said the Duke of Edinburgh ‘walked away’ from the situation after feeling that his advice was being ignored.

Seward’s book said: ‘For Philip, whose entire existence has been based on a devotion to doing his duty, it appeared that his grandson had abdicated his for the sake of his marriage to an American divorcee in much the same way as Edward VIII gave up his crown to marry Wallis Simpson in 1936.’