Royals To Visit Prince Philip In Hospital

Prince Philip In Hospital For Christmas

Members of the Royal Family this afternoon will visit the Duke of Edinburgh in hospital where he is recuperating following treatment for a blocked coronary artery.
Philip, 90, has spent a second night at Papworth Hospital near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, having undergone the coronary stent procedure.
Buckingham Palace said the Duke had a "good night" following Friday's surgery and was "eager to leave".
He is expected to remain under observation for a short period but no further details have been given about when he will be discharged.
It is thought to be the first time Philip has missed the Christmas morning service at Sandringham, the Queen's private Norfolk estate, which has become an annual tradition for the Royal Family since the early 1990s.
Buckingham Palace had said the service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the royal estate would go ahead as planned and no changes to the family's celebrations are expected.
But family members will now make the trip to Papworth Hospital to visit Philip following lunch.
The festive weekend also sees the Duchess of Cambridge spending her first Christmas as a member of the Royal Family.
One of the highlights of the day is undoubtedly when the royals gather around a television to watch the monarch's traditional Christmas broadcast.
This year, the monarch talks about the importance of family in the message which was recorded on December 9, two weeks before her husband was taken ill.
Philip was said to be in "good spirits" on Christmas Eve as he was visited in hospital by family members, including the Queen and the Prince of Wales.
The Earl of Wessex, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duchess of Cornwall also visited the Duke's bedside.
The Queen was flown to Papworth yesterday from Sandringham.
Philip was taken to the specialist heart hospital on Friday night after complaining of chest pains, and, following tests, a blocked artery was discovered by doctors.
He underwent a "minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting", which was declared a success.
This is the most serious health scare suffered by the Duke, who is known for being a robust and active 90 year old.
Although it is not known how long he will be in hospital, medical experts have said that many patients can be discharged a day after undergoing the procedure, providing there are no complications.
If he makes good progress he could be back among the Royal Family for the Boxing Day shoot, which he was reportedly supposed to be leading.