i*****s
发帖数: 15215 | 1 LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Philip, the 90-year-old husband of Queen
Elizabeth, had heart surgery to ease a blocked artery on Friday after being
rushed to hospital with chest pains as he prepared to celebrate Christmas
with the royal family.
Britain's longest-serving royal consort, known for his outspoken and
sometimes brusque manner, needed an operation to fit a small tube known as a
stent that keeps the blood vessel open.
Philip had been preparing to spend Christmas with other members of the royal
family, reportedly including Prince William and his wife Catherine, at the
Sandringham royal estate in eastern England.
He was taken to the Papworth Hospital, one of Britain's main heart and chest
centers, about 60 miles away in Cambridge, a palace spokeswoman said.
"The Duke of Edinburgh was found to have a blocked coronary artery which
caused his chest pains," the palace said in a statement. "This was treated
successfully by the minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting."
He will stay in hospital "for a short period" under observation, it added.
The hospital declined to comment.
Philip had attended a lunch for staff a week ago and had been on "very good
form," the BBC reported.
"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," former
royal press spokesman Dickie Arbiter told the BBC.
PIVOTAL FIGURE
Despite his age, Philip generally has been in good health and has continued
a busy round of charity work and social engagements, recently visiting
Australia and Ireland.
A pivotal figure in the House of Windsor, Philip has a reputation as a
fiercely loyal consort who prefers outdoor pursuits to introspection.
"The Queen is monarch, but within the family setting, the Duke of Edinburgh
is hugely important," royal commentator and author Penny Junor told Sky News.
"He has always been the one who has called the shots in family matters. He
has really made the major decisions."
Britain's tabloid newspapers have delighted over the years in recounting his
many public gaffes.
He once told British students in China: "If you stay here much longer, you'
ll be slitty-eyed."
Philip was accused by critics of being cruel to Princess Diana before her
death in a car crash in Paris in 1997. However, the prince's aides rejected
those claims at an inquest in 2007 and released letters purporting to show a
close relationship between them.
Born on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921, Philip served in Britain's Royal
Navy before marrying Elizabeth in 1947. They have four children, including
the heir to the throne, Charles.
The prince has no clear-cut constitutional role. In private he is regarded
as the unquestioned head of his family, but protocol obliges the man dubbed
"the second handshake" to spend his public life one step behind his wife.
In a rare public tribute to her husband, the queen said in a speech in 1997:
"He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite
simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I...owe him a debt
greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."
(Reporting by Peter Griffiths; Editing by Michael Roddy) | i*****s
发帖数: 15215 | 2 Prince Philip has 'good night' after heart surgery
Prince Philip "had a good night" in hospital after heart surgery and family
members will visit him Saturday, Buckingham Palace said.
The Queen's 90-year-old husband had a successful operation on Friday for a
blocked coronary artery, after being taken to hospital by helicopter from
the queen's Sandringham estate, where the royal family is celebrating
Christmas.
"The Duke of Edinburgh had a good night. There will be some members of the
family visiting him this morning in hospital," a spokeswoman for the palace
told AFP on Saturday.
The spokeswoman did not give further details of his condition or of which
royals were expected to visit him.
But in a separate statement overnight, the palace said the prince had been
taken to the Papworth cardiothoracic hospital in Cambridge, on Friday after
suffering chest pains.
Emergency services were called to Sandringham at around 1800 GMT on Friday
and Philip was flown by helicopter to the hospital 62 miles (100 kilometres)
away, British media reported.
The palace said tests found the blocked coronary artery, adding that it was
"treated successfully by the minimally invasive procedure of coronary
stenting.
The procedure involves inserting a tube-like device called a stent into the
blocked artery to open it up and help restore a healthy blood flow. It is
often performed under local anaesthetic.
"Prince Philip will remain in hospital under observation for a short period,
" the palace said.
Royal sources said the fact that family members were visiting was no
indication that he was likely to stay in hospital any longer than expected,
with one source saying that they would "obviously" want to see him on
Christmas Eve.
Medical experts said many patients leave hospital only a day after having
similar treatment.
"It does not require any major anaesthetic, this is all done when you re
awake under local anaesthetic," cardiologist John Barton told the BBC.
"The recovery period is very rapid after this. Very often the people are
discharged from the hospital within a day or two."
The health scare came as royals were gathering at the 60-acre (24-hectare)
estate in Norfolk, where Prince William's wife Catherine is spending her
first Christmas as a member of the royal family.
Prince William, who is the grandson of the queen and Prince Philip, and
Catherine married in April.
The queen and her husband traditionally spend Christmas Day morning at St
Mary Magdalene Church on the royal estate and greet well-wishers on their
way to and from the service.
The Boxing Day shoot usually organised by Prince Philip could also be in
doubt.
Greek-born Prince Philip -- who has been married to Queen Elizabeth for 64
years and is Britain's longest-serving consort -- is well-known for his
tireless spirit as well as his outspoken views.
He joined his wife on an 11-day tour of Australia in October but has
recently suffered occasional bouts of poor health and pulled out of a trip
to Italy in October nursing a cold.
In 2012 the queen is due to mark her diamond jubilee celebrating 60 years on
the British throne, but while other royals are scheduled to tour the globe
next year, she and Philip are set to stay in Britain. |
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