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Prince Philip's health 'slightly improving' after 15 days in hospital, Duchess of Cornwall reveals

Rebecca Taylor
·Royal Correspondent
·3-min read

Watch: Prince Philip's treatment 'hurts at moments', says Duchess of Cornwall

Prince Philip's condition is "slightly improving", his daughter-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall has revealed, after he spent his 15th night in hospital.

Camilla gave a brief update on the Duke of Edinburgh's health while visiting a vaccination centre inside St Paul's Church in Croydon, south London.

She said: "We heard today that he’s slightly improving. So, that’s very good news. We’ll keep our fingers crossed."

The 99-year-old went into hospital on 16 February for treatment for an infection.

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during the transfer of the Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles at Windsor Castle on July 22, 2020 in Windsor, England. The Duke of Edinburgh has been Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles since its formation in 2007. HRH served as Colonel-in-Chief of successive Regiments which now make up The Rifles since 1953. The Duchess of Cornwall was appointed Royal Colonel of 4th Battalion The Rifles in 2007. (Photo by Samir Hussein/ Samir Hussein/WireImage )
Philip, seen here in July 2020, has now been in hospital for more than two weeks. (Samir Hussein/WireImage )

He was initially treated at King Edward VII's Hospital in London, but was moved to St Bartholomew’s Hospital on Monday for treatment for a pre-existing heart condition.

Buckingham Palace said he is "comfortable and is responding to treatment but is expected to remain in hospital until at least the end of the week".

Watch: Duke of Edinburgh moved to different hospital to continue treatment

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Philip, who is set to celebrate his 100th birthday in June, is known for his "no fuss" attitude, and the admission to the hospital was said to be out of an "abundance of caution".

The Queen has been carrying on with engagements despite her husband's long stay in hospital, including a number of video engagements and phone calls.

She spoke to chancellor Rishi Sunak on Tuesday ahead of his budget, which was revealed in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

And she unveiled a statue of herself in Australia, with the palace releasing a cheery call with the governor of South Australia in which she joked: "I would think possibly it might be quite alarming to suddenly see it out of the window – you’d think, gracious, has she arrived unexpectedly?"

Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall wearing a protective face covering to combat the spread of the coronavirus, leaves after a visit to the Community Vaccination Centre at St Pauls Church in Croydon, in south London on March 3, 2021. - The Duchess met with NHS staff, clinicians, administrators, volunteer marshals and representatives from the church positioned throughout the church to support those receiving vaccines. (Photo by Steve Parsons / POOL / AFP) (Photo by STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall made the comments at the Community Vaccination Centre at St Paul's Church in Croydon. (Steve Parsons/AFP)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: City of London police outside the entrance to St Bartholomew's Hospital on March 03, 2021 in London, England. The Duke of Edinburgh was transferred on Monday from King Edward VII's Hospital to St Bartholomew's Hospital where doctors will continue to treat him for an infection, as well as undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition Buckingham Palace has said. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)
The Duke of Edinburgh was transferred on Monday from King Edward VII's Hospital to St Bartholomew's Hospital, where doctors will continue to treat him for an infection as well as undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition, Buckingham Palace has said. (Kate Green/Getty Images)

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The stay in hospital has become Philip's longest admission, as he reached 14 nights on Tuesday.

He was said to be in "good spirits" when he first went to hospital, and walked in unaided.

His transfer from King Edward VII's to St Bart's was shielded from media view by umbrellas as he was transferred.

Prince Charles visited his father when he was in King Edward VII's, but the visiting rules are said to be much stricter at St Bart's and so Philip may not be able to receive anyone while he is there.

Visitors can only go to St Bart's in person if the patient is at the end of their life, a child, having a baby, or lacks capacity.

Read more: How the Queen has kept working during Prince Philip's hospital stay

The duke was last in hospital just before Christmas in 2019, when he was taken in on his doctor's advice as a precaution.

He was there for four days before leaving in time for Christmas at Sandringham.

He had a hip operation in September 2018 at the same hospital and was there for 10 days. It was a planned operation.

In June 2017, he spent three days in the hospital with an infection.

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