A police officer stands outside King Edward VII鈥檚 Hospital, in London, Friday, December 20, 2019. Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has been admitted to a London hospital 鈥渁s a precautionary measure,鈥� Buckingham Palace said Friday. The palace said in a statement the 98-year-old Philip was admitted to the King Edward VII hospital for observation and treatment of a pre-existing condition. 鈥� On Tuesday, December 24, 2019, the Duke of Edinburgh leaves the hospital in time to join the royal family for Christmas. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
LONDON 鈥� Britain鈥檚 Prince Philip left a London hospital on Tuesday after a four-night stay that renewed concern about the 98-year-old鈥檚 health, in time to join the royal family for Christmas.
Queen Elizabeth II鈥檚 husband, dressed in a suit, took a few steps before being helped into a dark green Land Rover parked by a side entrance of the King Edward VII hospital, where he was admitted Friday, an AFP reporter said.
鈥淭he Duke of Edinburgh has today left hospital after being discharged by his doctor and is now back at Sandringham,鈥� where the royal family traditionally spends Christmas Day, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
鈥淗is royal highness would like to thank everyone who sent their good wishes.鈥�
Buckingham Palace has released little information about the duke鈥檚 health, saying only that he went in for 鈥渙bservation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition鈥�.
It stressed that it was a 鈥減recautionary measure鈥�.
The duke was reportedly flown there by helicopter from the royal Sandringham estate in eastern England, where he has been based since retiring from public duties in 2017.
The Sun tabloid reported that Philip has suffered a month of ill-health, including a 鈥渂ad fall鈥� that left him confined to bed for a couple of days.
In recent years, he has been admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery, bladder infections and a blocked coronary artery, while he is also reported to suffer from arthritis in his right wrist.
In January, the duke was involved in a car crash near Sandringham. He pulled out onto the main road, hitting another car and flipping his Land Rover.
A woman in the other car broke her wrist, for which Philip apologized. He subsequently gave up his driving license but faced no further action.