Prince Philip went to the hospital last Friday. The man is 98 years old and he lives a quiet, retired life at Wood Farm. He has nurses and minders around him, and while he still keeps up with some of his family’s drama, I get the feeling that he doesn’t really give a f–k at this point. I also feel like Philip and the Queen barely even see each other anymore. Anyway, Philip had a fall, but he also has a “pre-existing condition” and basically, everyone is being kind of squirrelly about why Philip has been hospitalized. He’s still in the hospital too – he’s spent three nights at the King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone.
The Duke of Edinburgh was flown to hospital yesterday amid growing fears for his health. Buckingham Palace stressed last night that he was not an emergency case and was being treated for a ‘pre-existing condition’. But the Mail can reveal that Philip, 98, was flown by helicopter from the Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk to London before being driven to the King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone. It has also emerged the Duke ‘had a bad fall’ which left him bed-bound, palace sources confirmed.
The dash came as his wife left Buckingham Palace for Sandringham, where she hopes he can still join her for Christmas. Sources confirmed that the duke has not been in the best of health in recent weeks as he battles a flu-like condition. Philip has lived alone in a farmhouse at Sandringham since his retirement from public life in 2017. He is said by royal insiders to be increasingly frail.
‘The duke has had a bad turn recently and has been looking much frailer of late,’ one said. ‘He’s a remarkable man who has always prided himself on how robust he is, but he is six months off his 99th birthday and age takes its toll. He hasn’t been looking terribly well of late.’
In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, Buckingham Palace insisted that the duke’s hospital stay had been planned. It said: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh travelled from Norfolk this morning to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition. The admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness’s doctor.’ It is understood Philip was not taken by ambulance and was able to walk into the hospital unaided.
The Queen arrived at Sandringham last Friday, just as Philip was going into the hospital. As of yet, it doesn’t seem like she’s visited him? She went to church at Sandringham on Sunday with Prince Edward, because I guess on top of everything else, Prince Andrew wasn’t available. All that being said, sources told the Sun that Philip told his family to “carry on as usual” and not make a fuss over his hospitalization. A source said: “He doesn’t want the family coming to see him when he is in hospital. He wants to be in and out with minimal disruption to any festive plans, and he certainly doesn’t want the family to spend time at Christmas traipsing to his sick bed.” A source also said that Philip wants to “make it to 100.”
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, WENN.
At 98 years old you’re always an emergency case. He deserves a visit from his family.
I don’t think it’s fair to attack the family for not visiting, especially if this is something Philip wants. A lot younger but my mother was mad when people visited her in the hospital when she told us and friends not to. She was fine with calls but she really didn’t want people there. It may seem heartless to outsiders but sometimes it’s better to respect people’s wishes.
I agree. Philip does not want visitors or visitors would be visiting, getting papped and playing it for all it is worth to the tabloids..
This is not an attack, just an observation. If they’re complying with his wishes, that’s fine, especially if he wants to maintain his dignity and can’t be bothered with all the fuss around him. But you don’t know the extent of his condition and if he is indeed in a terminal state. And family doesn’t have to descend on him en masse, or even all of them. Maybe just someone. Having just lost my 97 year old mom, I was certainly glad to have been at her side as she deteriorated and ultimately passed away. But then, we’re not members of a royal family who march to the beat of a different drum.
I agree, it sucks being in the hospital and some people really prefer to get through it without lots of visitors traipsing through. He seems of sound mind enough to get to have a say in it. I’m sure if his doctor was predicting imminent death we’d see something different in terms of visitors.
The idea some have that due to how very old Philip is that he needs a constant deathwatch of people hovering over him is weird.
@Feeshalori, I’m so sorry about your mom. It’s hard losing your mom no matter what her age. All the best.
Thank you, Spikey, that’s very kind of you.
Gotta wonder if PP being “rushed” to the hospital was a diversion from RRs focusing on Pedo’s arrival at Sandringham. Give the peasants something else to focus on/look at at that precise time.
There have been rumors that he has had prostate cancer for a while. I think that’s the preexisting condition and they might not want to release that info since most elderly men have it and he went in for a different procedure/treatment. I think they are trying to minimize it if anything, not make a fuss to distract from Andrew.
We were told in hospice care that most seniors with cancer die with it, not because of it.
My mother at 95 was super stressed by people visiting her in the hospital. It required too much energy to be pleasant for others. Additionally it is just plain embarrassing and wounding to her pride to be seen in a gown and lying in bed. In her most recent rehab stay she had to have me ask people to not even call for the first week. It is just too stressful to deal with constant calls, and it was hard for her to hear. Additionally it is hard for her to be around a lot of people–confusing because her hearing is not great. And little kids are stressful to her. Being old is no picnic and the things we think they want, based on our own desires, they may not. It is always best practice to listen to what people tell you they want.
This.
Very well said.
Yep, I remember a few years old my very ill, post-stroke granny lying in the hospital bed and some distant relatives of hers coming in and wanting to take selfies with her. Visitors are not always an unalloyed good in a hospital setting. Good for you for advocating for your mother’s wishes.
Yeah, I don’t want a bunch of peeps bugging me while I am laid up in a hospital bed looking like hell. It’s not relaxing at all. I’m sure if the doctor thought Ol’ Phil was gonna kick the bucket his immediate family would be at his side.
@ Feeshalori : My parents were British and Philip’s attitude is on point for that generation. No fuss, no muss. My one aunt didn’t even want to tell us when she had terminal cancer since she felt everyone would get worked up and make a fuss. It’s a very British way to look at things.
Totally get the attitude. 7 years ago, I was in the hospital for a week and then had to recover at home for a couple of months . I told my husband to tell people that I was asleep when they kindly dropped off casseroles and wanted to visit.
I understand where you’re coming from. And he was released today, so good for him and no fuss and bother.
Ahh the whole duty, pap walks, and the firm before family, loyalty, love,
The man is 98 years old…I hope this is mostly untrue and someone visits him in hospital, to show support, love, cheer him up.
I hope he does get love and cheering up, although I think it would be best from a source other than his high drama family…
A no-fuss visit from some caring people would be nice without any deathwatch or hovering relatives. How do we know it’s actually true from media reports that he doesn’t want visitors? The idea of a person of such great age in a hospital, especially around the holidays, is a bleak picture.
At the very least, the wife should visit the husband. Sorry this carry on crap and Queen does not like to change plans is BS. He’s 98 not 19! Can’t with this dysfunctional family
I don’t actually think it’s about that. It’s clear that Phillip and QE have lived separate lives for awhile now. That’s there arrangement and I dont see an issue with it. The Queen is in her nineties herself. And if Phillip doesnt want her or anyone else visiting then it makes sense that they would respect his wishes.
Also, even the cleanest hospital is a threat for a 93yo person; if QEII was to visit she could also get sick with something.
When someone tells you their wishes about hospital visits you should respect them. Being elderly does not mean he’s lost his ability to choose for himself what he wants. Hospitals are for focusing on medical needs–especially at that age. Likely he does not need any more fuss or the stress. Being 98 is HARD. I am not that age but am seeing a parent through it and this was her exact same reaction. She did not want people visiting her while she was in a gown, unable to move, catheter in, nurses and docs in and out constantly. Right now he just needs to focus on himself.
I have mixed feelings on the family visiting thing. I think it’s probably partially him trying to downplay how sick he is, but I think it’s also relatively safe. Like – if he’s stable and doing okay with whatever treatment he’s getting it might be best to keep the visitors away so he doesn’t take a turn for the worst by having more germs brought in. And I also think it’s relatively wise for the queen to avoid a hospital during cold/flu season given her age.
I work in a hospital and they are like pétri dishes at this time of year. No one her age should be anywhere around one.
Hahah, Jan, I work in an open office call center (thankfully not a phone job) with very tiny cubicles. I can literally listen to the hacking and sneezing going through the place like a wave of germs. I can’t imagine a hospital considering how bad this place gets.
Yep, there is a nasty cold raging through my office. Everyday there are new coughs in the chorus.
It seems like everywhere is a petri dish this time of year, but I can’t even imagine how bad hospitals are!
I also think if those are his wishes, fine. I’ve thankfully only been in the hospital once, and I was so groggy and gross after a couple of days there, I didn’t want anyone coming to see me.
He probably doesn’t want her around because Penelope Knatchbull Mountbatten is probably right there with him and it would make things awkward.
Yes it seems totally likely that a 99 year old man is getting down in what is essentially his rest home.
This might shock you, but elderly people still have sex, although frankly thinking of Philip doing so isn’t my favorite image.
Anyway, that wasn’t the point of my comment. My point is, TQ and Philip have been living separate lives and he has a longstanding relationship with Penelope Knatchbull which the Queen is aware of. Why wouldn’t she be there with him? And why would the Queen feel the need to bother, if she is?
Oh dear, I thought you wrote Snatch Bull.
Yep, no wonder the queen isn’t going. His official mistress of many decades Penelope will be there.
It’s just incredible to me that H&M were tarred and feathered for not doing xmas with the Saxe-Coburg-Battenburg-Windsors yet not one member of the family (Queenie included) want to mop Filips brow at his bedside in his hour of need…. definite lack of spin with this one….
Or he’s frail and visitors would wear him out. Or he has a cold that’s catching, or they don’t want him to catch anything from them.
We don’t know what’s going on, literally, and there’s lots of ways to stay in touch. Phone, FaceTime, etc.
Prince Philip probably just wants to relax in the hospital.
Who goes in to a hospital to relax? Super germs.
He lives alone in a farmhouse on the Sandringham estate? I’m sure he’s taken care of 24/7 but why did they remove him to a farmhouse like unwanted furniture? He seems to be mentally fit so it must feel like a banishment to him. And now he’s in a hospital but they are not to visit/ disrupt their holiday plans? I don’t get this family, seriously.
The BRF are a lot of things, but it was his choice to stay at Sandringham in a cottage/house that was refurbish for him.
Maybe he want to live a simple life, away from pomp and circumstance.
Ha – he’s not alone. The Mountbatten lady is with him.
And what if Penelope Knatchbull Mountbatten is with him????? SO WHAT!!!!
Philip is in the last stages of his life and if he wants to spend it with Penelope Knatchbull Mountbatten that is his choice. I also would bet my last dollar that Penelope Knatchbull Mountbatten has permission and consent of QEII to be there or she would not be there.
Doesn’t matter to me either. I was just pointing out that he’s not abandoned without company in some lonely cottage with only servants around him.
Sorry Bookworm, I took you comment the wrong way. MY MISTAKE.
No worries, BayTampaBay : )
I can’t muster any sympathy for this racist, entitled asshole. None.
Yea they can find time for some ridiculous holiday baking cosplay, but no one visits Pop-Pop in the hospital ???? Wierd and dysfunctional and bad optics.
He wasn’t in the hospital when they did the baking.
Does 98 year old Philip have dementia?
That would explain a lot.
Yes, that would clear up a whole lot. I was just thinking how absolutely bizarre so much of this is.
But it isn’t bizarre if the person has dementia. It sounds like Wood’s Farm has been set up as a private nursing home for him. For some with dementia, lots of family visits are helpful but for others, it can cause confusion and violent outbursts, not necessarily because of any conflict with the person visiting but because the elder can’t handle the confusion and disruption and no longer remembers how to act appropriately.
@lightpurple, yes you are exactly correct. It’s not bizarre if he’s suffering from dementia.
Otherwise it does kind of look like they’ve put him out to sea, though I acknowledge that eldercare isn’t one size fits all.
Just going by that picture of him in the carriage with TQ, he looks like an ancient old tortoise. I’m amazed that he is still drawing breath. When he does pass I find it ironically amusing that the Duchess of Sussex will be among the family mourners for his racist ass.
…and every reporter and every camera there will be focusing on her face hoping for a reaction they can slam for eternity.
Or… they put that out to avoid disruptions at the hospital. Just a thought.
I don’t think anyone believes they just retired the old goat and went about business as usual, regardless of his and TQs marital state he is still a father, grandfather etc.
After a fall, being bedbound leads to pneumonia, which is common in the elderly.
Pneumonia is often called the “friend of the elderly” as it results in a not-too-terrible way to die.
I’d never wish death on anyone, but won’t be surprised if it happens. He’s 98, in poor health, and is bedbound.
None of this surprises me.
The BRF as The Firm, it is all a front, Keep Calm and Carry On. It’s become a full time Soap Opera/PR disaster.
IRL, many people are estranged from their elderly relatives.
In PP case, He has staff/round the clock carers with him. At 98, he must be going downhill, perhaps he does not care to hear all the royal in fighting anymore. And yes, PP having dementia like problems would well be within a list of health problems at 98 for anyone.
TQ, Charles, William are all currently busy trying to recover from Prince Andrew damn near ending the Monarchy.
I’m starting to think Harry may be smarter than we think, he has hauled the new wife and baby far out of the way, good for them.
“I’m starting to think Harry may be smarter than we think, he has hauled the new wife and baby far out of the way, good for them….”
I agree.
The best thing that has happen for Harry & Megan, is that they were far far away… when that Andrew crap blew up.
But I bet money that the Daily Mail has moved heaven and earth trying to track them down. Just to get a current picture…. to start a whole new set of brutal malicious stories about them.
I hope Harry keeps his family in Canada until February!
These people.
He should still get family visits even if he has dementia.
Deleted
Apparently he walked into the hospital so maybe it is a routine thing. Problem is, if the royals start dropping everything and rush back to London, then everyone will assume that his condition is seriously deteriorating and will be asking when the funeral will take place.
Dude looks like he died long ago. He’s scary to look at!
My great grandfather died in a hospital at 97 without family after telling his wife not to ride in the ambulance with him because it was late at night. We later learned that the nurses sang to him as he died. Life at that age is precarious.
If he doesn’t want visitors, he doesn’t want visitors can’t force him to do anything he doesn’t want to do.
I totally agree. Unless it is a critical situation his wishes should be respected. It might be very draining for him and QE, plus everyone is no doubt preoccupied with holiday activity When I had a big operation and was in hospital for over a week I didn’t really want visitors either. I fell asleep during some visits and phone calls. And my one friend brought her squalling, sickly toddler along and little girl vomited all over my room. Not my idea of fun 😜
Eh, who cares if he’s got his mistress helping him out? Liz made peace with his philandering decades ago.
I don’t understand all the BF hate (besides pedo Andy, of course). I think Wills and Kate are doing the best they can in the goldfish bowl they’re stuck in. I also think Charles has some changes in mind once he’s king. And the Queen deserves respect for her strength all these years. Let’s just wait and see what happens when she’s gone.
Um, the Queen approved Epstein’s presence at royal parties even after legal allegations of his behavior started surfacing (including approving his presence at Beatrice’s 18th birthday party)
William and Kate are not doing the best they can in any sense of the phrase. Not for their workload, not for their exposing the children to PR, not for their treatment of Harry and Meghan.
I agree, PlayItAgain. I think a big part of the problem is the ‘purity test’ mentality- the same thing that has been damaging our side for a few election cycles now. Likely related, another factor might be excessive emotion in general, and love turning to hate when disappointed, specifically. I agree with most criticisms, like Maria’s above, and they certainly should be doing more to support Meghan and Harry, but you can see some people taking it too far. Crying ‘abolish the monarchy,’ cursing them, etc, seems like a hysterical reaction, especially when they aren’t even British or Commonwealth citizens (and sometimes even when they are, depending on how the comment is written). Hopefully it’s just letting off steam, but it certainly can be alienating.
I’m decades younger and the last thing I would want is visitors.
Its intresting that none of HIS kids have visited but the press is more concerned with harry and Meghan being there!!🙄 I wouldn’t be suprised if the cambridges pop by for some PR..
I gotta give the family a pass on this. They are horrible and eat their own like various insects, but I spent 10 horrible days in the hospital earlier this year for a random fluke thing and I appreciated visitors, but it was hard. You can’t wash your hair, I looked like hell in a casserole dish, I was so tired I couldn’t even turn on the tv as it was too much stimulation. Visitors were hard. It was easier with my friends as they were calmer, but for family you feel like you have to try and put on a good face. I am half Prince Philip’s age I bet visitors except spouses and some friends is a lot for him right now. I had my husband with me and I relied on him, but having 100 cousins and family members visit oh man just no.
A fun little Prince Philip story… back in the mid 80’s he attended a reception at an exclusive private club in Canada. The club, a former “gentlemen’s club”, was owned by my co-worker/friend’s Mom and my friend was asked to serve at the reception. I was asked too but I had to work at my regular job. She was briefed on proper protocol for serving royals and as one of the most experienced servers was assigned to tend specifically to PP’s needs. My friend was a beautiful, confident girl and PP flirted with her the entire evening, at one point even tickling her bum briefly when she brought him a drink. He would signal for refills by placing a hand behind his back and wiggling a finger at her. Which he did often. The man could really hold his drink according to my friend. She said he also smiled and winked at her a few times and was fun and flirty all evening. She did not mind in the slightest and even broke protocol at the end of the reception and squeezed his arm.
Gross.
Yuck.
Thank you for sharing your story, Nightsky. I’m sorry that people were rude about it and hopefully you see this.
Nothing wrong with the family respecting his wishes. If he doesn’t want visitors it is his decision entirely. The family would be there if that was what he wanted to happen.
I wonder if this is his way of avoiding Christmas with his sex offender son. Since his wife is determined to force Andrew on the entire family, Phillip might have thrown deuces and checked himself into the hospital. I do hope that some of the family do take the time visiting. They can’t spend the WHOLE holiday making the pedophile look good.
I really like this idea.
Some dank alleys of the British press keep tallying up the number of nights he’s been hospitalized with like ‘Meghan and Harry. Fly back now!’ It’s ridiculous. Sometimes elderly get infections and they are clinically stable but have to stay in the hospital for days waiting on blood cultures and such and making sure their antibiotics are working.
@Tourmaline the Sun apparently has a ‘royal family member’ quoted as saying Harry and Meghan are being selfish not flying back to be with Philip and depriving them of time with Archie. Even though I thought kids are kept separate at Sandringham? Anyway good news is that Philip checked out of hospital this morning.
Well you may not realise this but our hard earned money gets taxed to suppoort the Royal family so excuse me if I don’t care
Philip is out of the hospital and back at Sandringham House or his cottage.
Yesterday, someone asked Charles, how his father was doing, he coldly replied, he is being taken care of.
Well, Philip was cruel to Charles for years, still might be for all I know.