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Queen visits Prince Philip in hospital Queen visits Prince Philip in hospital
(40 minutes later)
The Queen has arrived to visit the Duke of Edinburgh in hospital in Cambridgeshire, where he has been treated for a blocked coronary artery. The Queen has visited the Duke of Edinburgh in hospital in Cambridgeshire, where he has been treated for a blocked coronary artery.
A "minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting" was successfully performed after he was taken to hospital suffering chest pains.A "minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting" was successfully performed after he was taken to hospital suffering chest pains.
The duke, 90, had a "good night" but remains under observation at Papworth Hospital, Buckingham Palace said. The duke, 90, is in "good spirits" but remains under observation at Papworth Hospital, Buckingham Palace said.
The Queen was accompanied by her son, Edward. Prince Charles arrived later. The Queen was accompanied by their sons Edward and Andrew, and daughter, Anne.
They arrived by helicopter for a 45-minute visit, where they were met by the hospital's chief executive and Professor John Cunningham, chief physician to the Queen.
After they left, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived by car from Highgrove.
Specialist unit
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said the fact the Queen had visited her husband so promptly suggested it was a "moment of real anxiety" for the royal family, albeit one which appeared to have passed.
The coronary stenting procedure involves pushing a balloon into the artery and blowing it up to remove the blockage.The coronary stenting procedure involves pushing a balloon into the artery and blowing it up to remove the blockage.
The stent is a metal sleeve fitted over the balloon, which remains inside the body when the balloon is removed.The stent is a metal sleeve fitted over the balloon, which remains inside the body when the balloon is removed.
The duke would have remained conscious during the procedure. He is likely to remain under observation "for a short period", the palace said. The duke would have remained conscious during the procedure.
Specialist unit
The BBC's Peter Hunt said the Greek-born prince was in strikingly good health and there had been no suggestion of ill health.
The prince attended a lunch for his staff a week ago and was reportedly "on very good form", he added.
He was flown to the hospital by an RAF helicopter. No other member of the Royal Family travelled with him.He was flown to the hospital by an RAF helicopter. No other member of the Royal Family travelled with him.
Buckingham Palace said he was eager to leave but it was likely he would have to stay in overnight.
Papworth is the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and the country's main heart and lung transplant centre, treating more than 22,800 inpatient and day cases and 53,400 outpatients each year.
'Extraordinarily fit'
Senior members of the Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, had been due to arrive at Sandringham on Saturday for Christmas.
Prince Philip, who arrived at Sandringham on Monday, is the longest-serving royal consort and celebrated 64 years of marriage to the Queen in November.
The treatment, we are told, has been successful. The focus now, and in the coming days, is on how a 90-year-old duke recovers from what Buckingham Palace has called a "minimally invasive procedure".The treatment, we are told, has been successful. The focus now, and in the coming days, is on how a 90-year-old duke recovers from what Buckingham Palace has called a "minimally invasive procedure".
His advancing age is obviously a factor. His health though has been good. The duke's last significant problem was in 2008 when he spent three nights in hospital with a chest infection.His advancing age is obviously a factor. His health though has been good. The duke's last significant problem was in 2008 when he spent three nights in hospital with a chest infection.
And he leads an active life. One member of his staff once said their task was not so much organising his diary as trying to keep up with him.And he leads an active life. One member of his staff once said their task was not so much organising his diary as trying to keep up with him.
As doctors treat him at Papworth, Prince Philip's family will start to arrive at Sandringham at the end of a very significant year for the royals. It's far from clear whether Prince Philip will be joining his family at Sandringham for Christmas, or whether he'll remain confined to a hospital bed.
It's far from clear whether he'll be joining them or whether he'll be confined to a hospital bed on Christmas Day.
Papworth is the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and the country's main heart and lung transplant centre, treating more than 22,800 inpatient and day cases and 53,400 outpatients each year. He was last in hospital in April 2008, when he spent three days in London with a chest infection. On that occasion, the Queen did not visit him.
Senior members of the Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, had been due to arrive at Sandringham on Saturday for Christmas. In October this year he pulled out of travelling to Assisi in Italy because he had a cold - he had just returned from an 11-day tour of Australia with the Queen.
Prince Philip, who arrived at Sandringham on Monday, is the longest-serving royal consort and celebrated 64 years of marriage to the Queen in November. Speaking ahead of his 90th birthday, in June, the duke said he wanted to slow down. He stepped down as president or patron of more than a dozen organisations.
He was last in hospital in April 2008, when he spent three days in London with a chest infection. Royal biographer Penny Junor said the duke was generally in good health for his age.
In October this year he pulled out of travelling to Assisi in Italy because he had a cold. "He is an extraordinarily fit man. He takes a lot of exercise, he does an awful lot of work. He's in very good shape generally. So with luck this is a blip and he'll be back fighting fit and back with the family for Christmas."
He had just returned from an 11-day tour of Australia with the Queen.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister has been kept informed of the situation and wishes the Duke of Edinburgh a very speedy recovery."A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister has been kept informed of the situation and wishes the Duke of Edinburgh a very speedy recovery."
Meanwhile, the Queen's Christmas Day broadcast to the nation will highlight the importance of the family unit. The speech, taped on 9 December, reflects on a year in which her grandson Prince William got married and her husband turned 90.Meanwhile, the Queen's Christmas Day broadcast to the nation will highlight the importance of the family unit. The speech, taped on 9 December, reflects on a year in which her grandson Prince William got married and her husband turned 90.