(UPDATED) Britain’s Prince Philip has recurrence of bladder infection

LONDON, United Kingdom (UPDATED) – Britain’s Prince Philip, the 91-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has a recurrence of a bladder infection that he suffered in June and will remain in hospital for a few days, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday, August 15.

A spokesman said the 91-year-old, who missed some of the queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations when the infection first struck, was admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in northeast Scotland “for investigation and treatment”.

The health scare comes just two months after Philip was hospitalised with a bladder infection during the queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations and eight months after he suffered a blocked coronary artery.

“The Duke of Edinburgh has been taken to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary this afternoon as a precautionary measure,” a palace spokeswoman earlier told AFP.

The royal couple were staying at Balmoral Castle, the queen’s residence in northeast Scotland, when Philip was taken ill and driven in an ambulance to Aberdeen, about 40 miles (60 kilometres) away.

“He has been resident at the castle for a short while but whilst he has been there, he has also undertaken engagements on the Isle of Wight,” Buckingham Palace added.

The outspoken prince had visited the Isle of Wight off southern England on Monday and appeared to be in good health as he carried out several public engagements.

He had also watched several events at the London Olympics in the last fortnight, including the Olympic debut of his granddaughter Zara Phillips in the eventing, who eventually won a silver medal.

Philip was hospitalised with a bladder infection for five nights in June, forcing him to miss the end of the huge diamond jubilee celebrations marking his wife’s 60th year on the throne.

On the night he was taken ill, hundreds of thousands of revellers chanted his name to wish him well at a star-studded jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace.

He also spent four days in hospital at Christmastime in December after undergoing a surgical procedure for a blocked coronary artery.

Greek-born Philip is the longest-serving royal consort in British history, and has been a constant fixture by the queen’s side throughout her reign.

He is famous for his politically-incorrect jokes, but behind the scenes is said to be a key source of support for the queen.

Born Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, Philip fled politically unstable Greece with his family when he was just 18 months old.

A respected officer in Britain’s Royal Navy during World War II, he had met Princess Elizabeth in 1939, but the couple did not marry until 1947.

He had to give up his titles as prince of Greece and Denmark and join the Church of England in order to marry the future queen.

He was placed in command of a ship after the wedding, but his career was cut short by the death of king George VI in 1952, which brought Elizabeth to the throne.

He once admitted the curtailment of his career was “disappointing”, but said that “being married to the queen, it seemed to me that my first duty was to serve her in the best way I could”.

They have four children together, including heir to the throne Prince Charles. – Agence-France Presse