A week before his 91st birthday, the Duke of Edinburgh stood in a cold wind on the Thames for an hour and a half beside the Queen, reviewing the thousand-vessel fleet assembled in her honour. Yesterday the Duke was admitted to hospital in London for a few days’ observation, suffering from what officials said was a bladder infection. “We all send our best wishes,” Sir Paul McCartney said, and he surely spoke for the nation.
Prince Philip missed last night’s concert and will miss today’s service of thanksgiving in St Paul’s. He will be conspicuous by his absence. For as long as the Queen has discharged her duties as monarch, he has been an almost constant presence at her side. He is known for occasional lapses into political incorrectness, but he is better known for his humour and sheer endurance. Indeed, he has few rivals in the Royal Family in terms of stamina, and he is its oldest member.
The Duke’s first headmaster described him as “rugged, boisterous [and] remarkably polite”. He was high-born in an age when such things made a difference, but he married Princess Elizabeth for love and has been devoted to her ever since. At the urging of his advisers he cut back the number of public engagements on his schedule in his 90th year. A heart scare meant that he spent last Christmas in hospital, and concerns over his health have brought notes of both poignancy and anxiety to the Queen’s Jubilee year.
Despite everything, Prince Philip chose to brave the elements on Sunday. He looked strong at first but spent time below decks during the seven-mile journey to the Tower. He was “disappointed” not to be able to attend the concert, a spokesman said. So were we all.