LONDON ? Britain's Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, suffered a "minor" ankle injury on Friday in a carriage driving accident, Buckingham Palace said.

The 88-year-old Prince, known as the Duke of Edinburgh, was hurt but did not require hospital treatment when his carriage hit a tree stump on the Windsor estate after the ponies pulling it bolted, a spokeswoman said.

She said: "The Duke has a minor injury to his ankle and did not need hospital treatment. He has been out and about as normal this afternoon.

"The female groom who was with the Duke has been to hospital for diagnosis for an injury to her elbow. The ponies pulling the carriage were recovered unharmed."

The Duke was forced to miss engagements last year because of a back injury sustained while carriage driving, a sport at which he has represented Britain.

The injury comes just a few weeks after the Duchess of Cornwall, the second wife of Prince Charles, broke her left leg while hill walking in Scotland.

Camilla suffered a twisted fracture of her left fibula when she slipped.