Duke of Edinburgh taken to hospital after suffering chest pains

Prince Philip taken from Sandringham to Papworth hospital in Cambridge for 'precautionary test'

The Duke of Edinburgh has been taken to hospital for tests after suffering chest pains, Buckingham Palace has said.

Prince Philip, 90, went from Sandringham, where the royal family are spending Christmas, to the cardiothoracic unit at Papworth hospital in Cambridge for precautionary checks, a spokeswoman said. Papworth is Britain's largest hospital specialising in heart and lung surgery.

The Duke, who has enjoyed good health for much of his life, was flown to the hospital by helicopter, Sky News reported.

Dickie Arbiter, a former press secretary to the Queen, said: "The Duke of Edinburgh's health is actually pretty good given that he is 90."

Arbiter, who is Sky's royal commentator, said: "He has had these chest pains before and I don't think it's anything untoward, but given his age they are being safe rather than sorry.

"I am sure we are going to see him on Christmas Day and he can look forward to accompanying the Queen in the new year."

Margaret Holder, a royal commentator, told the BBC: "It's obviously very worrying for the Queen and the rest of the royal family.

"It might not be as serious as it sounds. It's possible it could be a bit of indigestion and they are just checking it over, let's hope it's something simple like that.

"But he is 90, he has been in remarkable health. For somebody who has just done an 11-day tour of Australia at 90, that's amazing in itself as it is.Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said the news was "very sad" and "clearly disruptive" for the family's Christmas.

She told the BBC: "Either this is more serious and therefore they felt they really must issue a statement, or they've simply moved with the times and it's going to get out in social media."The 90-year-old's most recent illness was an uncharacteristic cold in October that forced him to pull out of an overnight stay in Italy.Philip had just co! mpleted an 11-day official royal tour to Australia with the Queen that saw them visit Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane.

Commentators described the long-haul trip as the couple's last to the continent because of their age, but the palace dismissed speculation that it was a "farewell" visit.

Papworth describes itself as the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and the country's main heart and lung transplant centre.

It treats more than 22,800 inpatient and day cases and 53,400 outpatients each year from across the UK.

Its services include cardiology, respiratory medicine, and cardiothoracic surgery and transplantation.


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