Prince Philip leaves hospital after five nights being treated for bladder infection

THE Duke of Edinburgh left hospital today after spending five nights being treated for a recurrence of a bladder infection.

Prince Philip, 91, was discharged from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary this morning where medical staff have been looking after him since last Wednesday.

The Duke was taken ill during his traditional annual summer break with the Queen and other family members at Balmoral in Scotland.

Philip looked relaxed as he emerged from the hospital and shook hands with senior members of staff lining his route to a Range Rover parked nearby. He smiled as he chatted with around a dozen of the staff who had treated him.

The Duke, dressed smartly in a jacket with a shirt and tie, took his place in the front passenger seat of the vehicle and appeared in good spirits as he waved to a small crowd of visitors and patients who had gathered to see him off.

Senior staff nurse Denise Webster said afterwards: “The Duke was a very good patient, and as he left the hospital he told staff to behave themselves and he said he was going back to enjoy the rest of his holiday.”

Thanks ... the Duke chats to staff of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

During his time at the NHS hospital, he was not visited by the Queen or other family members after being advised by doctors to rest, but he was in regular contact with relatives by telephone.

His latest health scare comes less than three months after he spent five nights in hospital with a bladder infection following the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in early June.

He had to miss some of the key celebrations marking the Queen’s 60-year reign after he was admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in London the day after braving wet and windy elements on a barge for several hours.

Philip also underwent a successful procedure to clear a blocked coronary artery last December and was in hospital for four nights over Christmas.