Britain's Duke of Edinburgh left hospital on Tuesday morning, after being admitted as a precautionary measure a month ago.
Prince Philip, 99, was recovering in the private King Edward VII's Hospital in central London, after heart surgery earlier this month.
He was admitted on February 16 after feeling unwell. The 28-day stay in hospital is the duke's longest period in hospital.
Buckingham Palace said the duke was discharged "following treatment for an infection and a successful procedure for a pre-existing condition".
"His Royal Highness wishes to thank all the medical staff who looked after him... and everyone who has sent their good wishes," a statement said.
The palace did not disclose the initial reason for his admission but said it was not related to coronavirus.
Royal aides later said he was receiving treatment for an unspecified infection.
On March 1, he was moved to another London hospital, St Bartholomew's, where he had a successful surgery for a pre-existing heart condition.
He was moved back to King Edward VII's Hospital days later.
The duke, who turns 100 in June, left the hospital in the back of a black BMW.
Since being admitted, the duke has been publicly visited only by his eldest son Prince Charles.
Queen Elizabeth II, 94, has remained at Windsor Castle, west of London, where the couple have been staying during the pandemic, and has continued to carry out her official duties by video.
Both the queen and Prince Philip received their first Covid-19 vaccine dose in January.
The duke has required hospital treatment a number of times in the last decade for a recurring bladder infection.
At Christmas in 2011 he had an operation to clear a blocked artery in his heart after being rushed to hospital with chest pains.
During his latest hospital stay the royal family has found itself embroiled in its biggest crisis for more than two decades after the Oprah Winfrey interview given by Prince Philip's and the queen's grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle.
During the interview, Ms Markle said a member of the royal family had made a racist comment about the couple's child, while Harry criticised his relatives for failing to stand up to what he regarded as abusive press treatment of his wife.
Harry said his father, Charles, had let him down and that he had felt trapped in his royal life.
The outpouring led Buckingham Palace to issue a statement on the queen's behalf saying she was saddened by what the couple had said, while Harry's elder brother William told reporters: "We're very much not a racist family".
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
THE SPECS
Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury
Engine: 3.6L V-6
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Price: Dh280,000
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
