LONDON (AFP) - Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip marked his 91st birthday at home on Sunday, after five days of hospital treatment for a bladder infection which sparked concerns about his health.
The outspoken family patriarch was spending the day quietly at Windsor Castle after leaving London’s King Edward VII hospital on Saturday.
The Duke of Edinburgh was hospitalised on Monday in the midst of huge diamond jubilee celebrations marking his wife’s 60 years on the throne. The prince, the longest-serving royal consort in British history and the queen’s stalwart companion throughout her reign, was in good spirits as he walked out of the hospital, shaking hands with staff and smiling.
And he proved he was on his regular good form with one of his typically quick-witted remarks.
Asked if he was feeling better, he quipped: “Well, I wouldn’t be coming out if I wasn’t.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the prince would mark his birthday privately. Prince Philip is known for his characteristic lack of fuss and spent his 90th birthday working.
“He continues to make a good recovery and will continue his convalescence at home,” the spokesman said.
The World War II naval officer was driven to Windsor Castle, west of London, the BBC reported, where the royals usually spend the weekends.
His illness came six months after he was treated for a blocked coronary artery after suffering chest pains.
The prince’s health has generally been good — he continues to enjoy carriage-driving, still stands ramrod straight and walks about briskly — but he said before his 90th birthday that he would scale down his engagements.
Two gun salutes will be fired in London at midday Monday to mark his birthday, though the royals do not attend such events.
The King’s Troop’s 41-gun salute in Hyde Park will be accompanied by a 62-gun tribute by the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London.
However, a palace spokesman said it was not yet known whether he will be able to carry out royal engagements planned for the coming week.
If well enough, he will host a garden party with the queen at Sandringham House in Norfolk, eastern England, on Tuesday, and both are scheduled to attend a jubilee picnic in neighbouring Lincolnshire on Wednesday.
He is famous for his off-colour jokes and no-nonsense attitude but family members say he is a key source of support for the 86-year-old sovereign.
“They are the most incredibly supportive couple to each other,” their grand-daughter Princess Eugenie told Sky News television.
“Grandpa was unfortunately taken ill and for granny to come and do that alone was probably quite testing and I think he is her rock, really, and she is his,” said the Newcastle University student, who is sixth in line to the throne.
A YouGov poll for The Sunday Times newspaper found that Prince Philip’s popularity has risen in the wake of his illness, with 58 percent describing him as an asset to the royal family compared to 47 percent before the jubilee.
The infection forced Prince Philip to miss the final two days of Britain’s jubilee celebrations, including Monday’s star-studded pop concert outside Buckingham Palace.
Crowds at the concert cheered and shouted “Philip! Philip!” after heir to the throne Prince Charles suggested: “If we shout loud enough, he might just hear us in hospital.”
Queen Elizabeth seemed touched by the spontaneous show of affection.
The Archbishop of York, the second-most senior cleric in the Church of England, paid tribute to Prince Philip, who is exactly 29 years his senior.
“As someone who shares a birthday with the duke, I look with admiration and some envy at his stamina and resilience, an example to many much younger people!”, the 62-year-old John Sentamu wrote in The Sun newspaper.
“He has been and continues to be untiring in his support for Her Majesty, and his service to our nation.
“Please raise a glass of beer to the duke. Cheers!”