UK’s Prince Philip to leave hospital

Prince Philip. AP FILE PHOTO

LONDON – Britain’s Prince Philip will leave the hospital Tuesday after undergoing a treatment for a blocked coronary artery, Buckingham Palace officials said.

Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s 90-year-old husband, spent four nights in the hospital recovering from a successful coronary stent procedure.

He was taken to Papworth, a specialist heart hospital in Cambridge, on Friday after complaining of chest pains.

It was the most serious health scare suffered by Philip, who is known to be active and robust. He has continued to appear at many engagements, most recently taking a 10-day tour of Australia with the queen.

For the first time in years he was forced to miss the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas festivities, which include attending a morning church service, viewing the queen’s annual Christmas broadcast together, and a shooting party on Boxing Day.

Philip will return to Sandringham, the queen’s private estate in rural Norfolk, to join the queen and other royal family members, palace officials said on condition of anonymity in line with policy.