Prince Philip has undergone a successful operation on his hip, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
“The Duke of Edinburgh has undergone a successful hip replacement operation,” the palace said in a statement. “He is progressing satisfactorily at this early stage. His Royal Highness is likely to remain in hospital for several days. He is comfortable and in good spirits.”
The 96-year-old royal was admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in London this week ahead of his planned surgery on Wednesday.
It follows a series of missed engagements and last-minute cancellations due to the hip problem, including Easter services alongside Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle over the weekend.
Prince William and Duchess Catherine, who are expecting their third little prince or princess any day now, did, however, make a surprise appearance at the important event alongside the monarch.
The heavily pregnant royal opted for Catherine Walker coat, which she last wore in 2015 to the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations just before giving birth to Princess Charlotte. She completed her outfit with nude pumps, a brown Lock & Co hat and earrings by Balenciaga.
Other royals who made up the congregation included Zara Tindall, who is expecting her second child with husband Mike Tindall, and the Queen’s granddaughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
In August last year, Philip officially retired from public life after decades of loyal service.
His last official engagement before retirement saw him attend the Captain General’s Parade on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.
The event, which marked the finale of the Royal Marines 1664 Global Challenge, was a fitting end to Prince Philip’s royal duties. He was first appointed Captain General of the Royal Marines on June 2, 1953, in succession to the late King George VI.
WATCH: Prince Philip carries out his last official engagement after decades of loyal service. Post continues…
Wearing a black bowler hat and a long overcoat to stay dry during the rainy engagement, the much-loved royal waved warmly to onlookers, acknowledging their cheers.
He is considered one of the hardest-working royals of all time and conducted 110 days of appearances last year, outnumbering several young family members — including Prince William.