Queen's husband, Prince Philip to undergo surgery

 
  Prince Philip, The Queen's husband who will be 92 next week and has had increasing health problems in the past 18 months, was to undergo exploratory surgery in a London hospital on Friday, Buckingham Palace announced.

  "His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted to the London Clinic for an exploratory operation following abdominal investigations," the royal household said on Thursday evening in a statement that described the prince's admittance to the clinic as planned. "He is expected to stay in hospital for up to two weeks. Further updates will be issued when appropriate."
   The prince was expected to have the operation under general anaesthetic, the BBC reported. The duke was at a garden party given by the queen at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, and television pictures showed him smiling and shaking hands with guests. The Queen, 87, pressed ahead with her scheduled engagements on Friday, formally opening the BBC's rebuilt Broadcasting House in London with a live broadcast.

Operation: Prince Philip at a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

The duke spent five nights in a Scottish hospital in August last year with a bladder infection, a recurrence of a complaint that first required treatment in June 2012 during events to mark 60 years since the Queen's accession to the throne. The duke also had a coronary stent inserted for a blocked artery in December 2011 after suffering chest pains, causing him to miss the royal family's Christmas celebrations. The prince began to scale back his royal engagements when he turned 90.

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Prince Philip was at the Queen's side on Tuesday when she attended a service in Westminster Abbey to mark the 60th anniversary of her coronation, even though he withdrew from an engagement the previous night after becoming unwell.
The London Clinic, located on Harley Street in the capital's West End, describes itself as one of Britain's largest private hospitals, with more than 300 consultant surgeons and physicians.
In 2009, Prince Philip became Britain's longest-serving royal consort, surpassing the 57-year, 70-day record set by Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The Queen described Prince Philip on their golden wedding anniversary in 1997 as "my strength and stay all these years".
according to BBC

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