Duke of Edinburgh in hospital again

The Duke of Edinburgh--Prince Philip will spend the next few days in hospital in Aberdeen after being admitted with a recurrence of the bladder infection that he suffered in June, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The Duke, who is 91, was driven by ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon after feeling unwell during his annual summer break at Balmoral with the Queen. He had recently returned from the Isle of Wight, where he spent two days at Cowes Regatta.

A Buckingham Palace statement said the Duke had been admitted "for investigation and treatment".

It is the third time in nine months that he has been in hospital.

In June he spent almost a week in the King Edward VII hospital in London after becoming ill with a bladder infection during the Diamond Jubilee and missed the final two days of celebrations of the Queen's 60 years on the throne.

He spent last Christmas at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge after suffering chest pains at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, and underwent surgery for a blocked coronary artery.

His next scheduled public appearance is on Aug 29 when he is due to accompany the Queen to the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.