Prince Philip has spent 16 nights in hospital after being admitted on February 16. Getty
Prince Philip has spent 16 nights in hospital after being admitted on February 16. Getty
Prince Philip has spent 16 nights in hospital after being admitted on February 16. Getty
Prince Philip has spent 16 nights in hospital after being admitted on February 16. Getty

Duke of Edinburgh undergoes heart surgery


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The Duke of Edinburgh had a successful operation for a heart condition, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.

Prince Philip, 99, spent 16 nights in hospital after being admitted on February 16 as a precautionary measure.

He was treated for an infection at King Edward VII's Hospital in London before being taken by ambulance to St Bartholomew's on Monday for heart tests.

Buckingham Palace said the surgery took place on Wednesday.

"The Duke of Edinburgh yesterday underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St Bartholomew's Hospital," it said.

"His royal highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days."

The reason for the duke's initial admission to hospital was not disclosed but it is not believed to be related to coronavirus.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in January.

The queen, 94, is at Windsor Castle in England continuing her official duties by video.

The duke was visited in hospital by his son and heir to the throne Prince Charles.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, said on Wednesday that the duke's condition had "slightly improved" but he still "hurts at moments".

A police officer carries a balloon and a message for Prince Philip outside St Bartholomew's Hospital. Reuters
A police officer carries a balloon and a message for Prince Philip outside St Bartholomew's Hospital. Reuters

"We keep our fingers crossed," she told a volunteer during a visit to a Covid-19 vaccination centre.

Prince Philip, who turns 100 in June, required hospital treatment for a bladder infection several times in the past decade.

At Christmas in 2011 he had an operation to clear a blocked artery in his heart after being taken to hospital with chest pains.

The duke's present hospital stay is his longest and comes at a difficult time for the UK royal family, which faces a rift with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, whose tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey will be broadcast in the US on Sunday.

In a second teaser clip of the interview, Meghan Markle accuses Buckingham Palace of "perpetuating falsehoods" about her and Prince Harry.

"I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent, if there is an active role that 'The Firm' is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us," she said.

"And if that comes with the risk of losing things ... there's a lot that's been lost already.”

The interview was filmed before aides accused Ms Markle of bullying during her time as a working royal.

In a highly unusual statement about the media reports, Buckingham Palace said it would investigate the claims.

Scorline

Iraq 1-0 UAE

Iraq Hussein 28’

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile

Name: JustClean

Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries

Launch year: 2016

Number of employees: 130

Sector: online laundry service

Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding

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MATCH INFO

Everton v Tottenham, Sunday, 8.30pm (UAE)

Match is live on BeIN Sports

SANCTIONED
  • Kirill Shamalov, Russia's youngest billionaire and previously married to Putin's daughter Katarina
  • Petr Fradkov, head of recently sanctioned Promsvyazbank and son of former head of Russian Foreign Intelligence, the FSB. 
  • Denis Bortnikov, Deputy President of Russia's largest bank VTB. He is the son of Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB which was responsible for the poisoning of political activist Alexey Navalny in August 2020 with banned chemical agent novichok.  
  • Yury Slyusar, director of United Aircraft Corporation, a major aircraft manufacturer for the Russian military.
  • Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva, chair of the board of Novikombank, a state-owned defence conglomerate.
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk

“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”

“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”

“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”

“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”