Prince philip health update: how ill is duke of edinburgh? Why did...

The Duke of Edinburgh had been due to appear at a ceremony at Windsor Castle to formally hand over his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards to his son, Prince Andrew. However the Mail

reported he was not able to go as he was “feeling under the weather.” Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the matter. The prince has experienced several bouts of ill health recently, so

doctors will be keen not to take any risks with the health of the 96-year-old. Prince Philip, who has been married to the Queen since 1947, retired from his public duties last August, but a

spokeswoman had said at the time he may attend events from “time to time.” In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “In taking this decision, the duke has the full support of the Queen. “The

duke will not be accepting new invitations for visits and engagements, although he may still choose to attend certain public events from time to time. “Her Majesty will continue to carry

out a full programme of official engagement with the support of members of the royal family.” The Queen attended the event yesterday with Prince Andrew, and they were received in the grand

reception room at Windsor Castle to mark the appointment of the Duke of York as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. Prince Philip had been Colonel of the Grenadier Guards since 1975 and

Buckingham Palace announced last December Andrew would take over the role from his father. PRINCE PHILIP HEALTH PROBLEMS OVER THE YEARS Prince Philip has suffered from a series of health

problems in recent years. In May 2014 he had an operation on his right hand inside Buckingham Palace and was seen wearing a bandage to protect it. Back in June 2013, he was admitted to

hospital for an exploratory operation on his abdomen. He spent his 92nd birthday in hospital and left after 11 night, recovering at Sandringham. The palace said he would spend “a period of

convalescence, of approximately two months.” He undertook his first public engagement since the operation on August 12 handing out medals at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. A bladder

infection in June 2012 meant the Duke was forced to miss the majority of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The infection recurred against in August of the same year and the duke was

taken to hospital as a precautionary measure - he spent five nights at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The duke was taken to hospital by helicopter from Sandringham after suffering chest pains

in December 2011. Doctor successfully performed a “minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting,” Buckingham Palace said. He spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day in hospital, but a few

days after being discharged he appeared in good health as he attended the annual New Year’s Day service at Sandringham. In October 2011 the duke pulled out of an overnight stay in Italy

because of a cold. The Queen and the duke has shortly returned from a busy 11-day official royal tour to Australia. Carpal tunnel syndrome was the cause of a minor operation in 2010. He was

admitted as a day patient and the duke missed an evening dinner engagement in the City and a subsequent royal visit to Crewe.