The Duke of Edinburgh arrived back at Windsor Castle today after leaving hospital following a month under the care of medical staff after initially being admitted with an infection and later undergoing heart surgery.
Prince Philip, 99, the nation’s longest-serving consort, spent 28 nights as a patient in London at King Edward VII’s Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital – his longest ever stay.
The ‘Iron Duke’ was photographed leaving King Edward VII’s Hospital in Marylebone at about 10.30am today, with screens obscuring him in a wheelchair for the most part, before getting into a car and being driven away.
Philip, who is set to celebrate his 100th birthday in June, headed to Windsor Castle to be reunited with the Queen after a month without seeing her, arriving within less than an hour. A Buckingham Palace statement is awaited.
The Duke was initially taken by car to King Edward VII’s Hospital on February 16, after telling his doctor he felt unwell. But two weeks later he was moved to St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London by ambulance.
Philip will have much to catch up on with the Queen following a dramatic week that saw the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plunge the monarchy into a crisis by accusing a member of the royal family of racism – not the Queen or Philip – and claiming that Meghan Markle received no support with her mental health problems.
The Duke of Edinburgh underwent a successful procedure on a pre-existing heart condition at Barts on March 3, before returning to King Edward VII’s Hospital a few days later to recuperate and continue his treatment.
Prince Philip arrives at Windsor Castle this morning after being discharged from King Edward VII’s Hospital in London
Philip arrives back at Windsor Castle today where he will be reunited with the Queen after a month without seeing her
The Duke of Edinburgh leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital in London today following a month of treatment by medical staff
The Duke of Edinburgh (centre) is driven away in a car after leaving King Edward VII’s Hospital in London this morning
Philip leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital in London today after being treated in hospital for a pre-existing heart condition
Prince Philip gets into a car as he is seen leaving King Edward VII’s Hospital in London this morning
The Duke of Edinburgh is seen leaving King Edward VII Hospital in London (let) after getting into a car (right) this morning
The Duke of Edinburgh is pictured being driven away from King Edward VII’s Hospital in London this morning
Prince Phillip leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital in London today after a month of being treated by doctors
The Duke of Edinburgh leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital in London this morning following a month in hospital
The Duke of Edinburgh leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital in London this morning after a month-long stay in hospital
Prince Philip leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital in London this morning after about a month being treated
Philip was visited in King Edward VII’s Hospital on February 20 by the Prince of Wales, who made a 200-mile round trip from his Gloucestershire home and stayed for about 30 minutes.
The news of his departure was welcomed by royal commentators, including Phil Dampier, author of Prince Philip: A Lifetime of Wit and Wisdom, who tweeted: ‘Fantastic news. Prince Philip has left hospital after nearly a month. On to the ton!’
Earlier, police blocked access for vehicles to King Edward VII’s Hospital, as four officers arrived on motorcycles to join a dozen at the entrance.
Concern about the duke has been heightened because of his advanced age and his hospital stay comes amid troubled times for the royal family.
While Philip was in hospital, Prince Harry and Meghan faced calls to postpone their interview with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey because Philip was unwell, but it went ahead and the couple made a string of claims about their struggles as working royals.
Prince Philip leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital in London this morning having spent a month being treated
A screen is placed outside King Edward VII’s Hospital in London today where medical staff have been treating the Duke
The Duke of Edinburgh leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital in London today following his treatment by medical staff
Prince Philip leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital in London this morning where he has been receiving treatment
Police officers outside King Edward VII’s Hospital in London where the Duke of Edinburgh has been receiving treatment
The Duke of Edinburgh (centre) is driven away in a car after leaving King Edward VII’s Hospital in London this morning
A screen is put up as a car waits at the side entrance of King Edward VII’s Hospital in London this morning
Phillip leaves King Edward VII hospital in London today following a month apart from the Queen
Police officers stand outside King Edward VII’s Hospital this morning where Philip was first admitted on February 16
The 99-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II spent a month in hospital in London before leaving in a car this morning
Police officers walk outside King Edward VII’s Hospital today where Prince Philip has been treated in recent weeks
The Queen, 94, said in a statement afterwards that the issues are concerning, but that ‘some recollections may vary’ and the matter is a family one that will be dealt with privately.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Cambridge defended the House of Windsor, saying during a visit to a school in East London last week: ‘We’re very much not a racist family.’
Philip has been treated for heart problems in the past and in 2011 was taken to hospital by helicopter from Sandringham after suffering chest pains as the royal family was preparing for Christmas.
He was treated for a blocked coronary artery at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire and underwent a minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting.
The duke had been spending the latest lockdown at Windsor with the Queen for their safety, alongside a reduced household of staff dubbed HMS Bubble.
The couple, who have been married for 73 years, received their first Covid-19 jabs in January.
Meanwhile Buckingham Palace has instructed an external law firm to assist with its investigation into bullying allegations made against the Duchess of Sussex.
Royal aides announced earlier this month that past and present employees of Meghan and Harry would be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences, after it was alleged she drove out two personal assistants and staff were ‘humiliated’ on several occasions.
Now it is understood an outside legal company will help Buckingham Palace’s human resources team as it examines the circumstance of the allegations, first reported by the Times newspaper.
According to other reports, the Sussexes are not expected to be asked to contribute to the review, but the duchess has written to the palace asking for any documents, emails or texts relating to the allegations against her.
Lawyers for the duchess have denied the bullying allegations.
Harry was also accused of bullying, with the Times reporting earlier this month that a member of staff told a colleague the couple were ‘outrageous bullies’.
When the bullying allegations were first made, Buckingham Palace said in a statement it was ‘very concerned’ about them, and stressed the Royal Household ‘does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace’.
It added: ‘Accordingly, our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned.’
The investigation was launched after the Times reported that Jason Knauf, the Sussexes’ then communications secretary, made a bullying complaint in October 2018 in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect staff.
A source told the newspaper that Harry begged his senior aide not to take the matter further, but it also reported that lawyers for the duke and duchess deny the meeting took place and that Harry would not have interfered with staff matters.
Cars wait at the side entrance of King Edward VII’s Hospital in London today where Philip has been treated in recent weeks
Police officers and officials are seen outside King Edward VII’s Hospital in London today where Philip has been treated
A police officer stands outside the private King Edward VII’s Hospital where Prince Philip has been treated in recent weeks
Police motorbikes lined up outside King Edward VII’s Hospital today where the Duke has been treated in recent weeks
Police stand at the doors to King Edward VII’s Hospital where Philip has been treated after being admitted with an infection
Prince Philip is pictured during the transfer of the Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles at Windsor Castle on July 22, 2020
The Queen and Prince Philip look at a wedding anniversary card in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle last November
The Prince of Wales is pictured arriving at King Edward VII’s Hospital to visit his father Prince Philip on February 20
Prince Charles is pictured following his visit to the Duke of Edinburgh at King Edward VII’s Hospital in London on February 20
Mr Knauf reportedly sent an email outlining the duchess’s alleged actions to Simon Case, the Duke of Cambridge’s then private secretary and now the cabinet secretary, after conversations with Samantha Carruthers, the head of human resources.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘Our commitment to look into the circumstances around allegations from former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is being taken forward but we will not be providing a public commentary on it.’
A spokesman for the Sussexes declined to comment.
Soon after the bullying allegations were made, the monarchy was left reeling after Harry and Meghan’s interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey, in which they made a string of allegations, including accusing a member of the royal family of making a racist comment about their son Archie.
How private King Edward VII’s Hospital is the first choice for the royal family
Many a royal has been cared for at the private King Edward VII’s Hospital.
From the Queen to the late Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother, the exclusive clinic in central London has been the first port of call for ailing members of The Firm for years.
The Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted a number of times in recent years and the Duchess of Cornwall had a hysterectomy at the medical institution in 2012.
The first time the Queen was admitted to hospital was at the King Edward VII’s in July 1982 when she had a wisdom tooth extracted.
Police at King Edward VII’s Hospital in Marylebone today where Philip was initially taken after telling his doctor he felt unwell
In 2003, the clinic’s surgeons also removed minor non-cancerous growths from the monarch’s face and operated on her knee.
Tragedy struck in 2012 when nurse Jacintha Saldanha apparently killed herself after she was duped by two hoax callers who had phoned the hospital.
The Duchess of Cambridge was being treated at the hospital for severe morning sickness when pregnant with Prince George, and Ms Saldanha – believing the Australian pair were senior royals – put them through to a colleague who described in detail Kate’s condition.
Philip was treated at the hospital for a short period in 2018 following a planned admission for a pre-existing but undisclosed condition.
The previous year the duke spent nine days receiving treatment and physio following a hip replacement at the institution.
King Edward VII’s Hospital was established in 1899 by two sisters, Agnes and Fanny Keyser, who turned their home at 17 Grosvenor Crescent into a hospital for sick and wounded officers returning from the Boer War.
King Edward VII became the hospital’s first patron – a role now held by the Queen. Edward VII, Charles’s great-great grandfather, had an affair with Camilla’s great-grandmother Alice Keppel.
The hospital moved to its present site in Beaumont Street in 1948, and in 2000 it changed its title to King Edward VII’s Hospital Sister Agnes.