The Duke of Edinburgh has spent his second night in hospital after being admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in London. And he is said to be in high spirits, with reports he has been laughing and joking with the staff taking care of him. 

Prince Philip was transported from Sandringham to London on Friday, where he was admitted to the private hospital in Marylebone for “observation and treatment”, Buckingham Palace confirmed.

In a statement, the palace said: “The Duke of Edinburgh travelled from Norfolk this morning to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition.

“The admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness’s doctor.” 

The statement doesn’t mention how the Duke arrived in London, but a royal insider said he was not driven to the capital in an ambulance.

The source added the Duke entered the hospital walking.

However, the Daily Mail reported yesterday Prince Philip was transported from Wood Farm, the five-bedroom cottage he has been staying since early September, to London in a helicopter, fuelling concerns over his health.

The publication also said Prince Philip has sparked concern after contracting a flu-like condition which he has been battling for a few weeks.

Speaking about the Duke’s health in recent months, one source said: “The Duke has had a bad turn recently and has been looking much frailer of late.

“He’s a remarkable man who has always prided himself on how robust he is, but he is six months off his 99th birthday and age takes its toll.

“He hasn’t been looking terribly well of late.”

Another source told The Sun the Duke had a “bad fall” in the past weeks, which left him bed-stricken for a couple of days.

They said: “The Duke had a bad fall and was confined to bed for a couple of days.

“He didn’t break anything, but it gave everyone a scare.” 

Another source, who also said the Queen and Philip have been living apart for months as the Duke decided to leave Balmoral in early September to stay in Sandringham, added the senior royal suffered “a bit of a wobble” this autumn.

They said: “A few weeks ago Philip had a bit of a wobble and hasn’t felt so energetic.

“He has been living quietly at Sandringham, where he spends most of his time reading and pottering about.

“Until recently he has been very active — carriage riding, fishing at Balmoral and driving around royal estates — although he no longer drives on public roads following his crash in January. 

“His mind is as sharp as ever.”

While the Duke is set to remain in hospital for the next few days, senior royals are preparing to spend Christmas with the Queen, who was seen arriving at King’s Lynn train station just a few hours before news of the Duke’s hospitalisation broke.

Among the royals expected to be seen attending service on Christmas Day at St Mary Magdalene Church there are Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Charles, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles.

According to a source, this Christmas could mark the debut in the walkabout to the chapel of both Prince George and Princess Charlotte.      

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