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NEW: Prince Philip in good spirits, spokeswoman says
NEW: There is no discharge day yet, spokeswoman says
Queen Elizabeth II visited her husband at the hospital
Philip, 90, has been married to Queen Elizabeth II for 64 years
Britain’s Prince Philip is in good spirits after having heart surgery, but there is no word yet on when he will be discharged, a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said Saturday.
“The Duke of Edinburgh had a good night and is in good spirits but he is eager to leave,” spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson said outside of the hospital.
It appeared likely that the 90-year-old Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, will remain hospitalized during Christmas.
The royal family traditionally spends Christmas at Sandringham, the private home of four generations of British monarchs.
There are no changes expected in the royal family’s Christmas celebration plans, Anderson said.
The office of the British prime minister on Saturday wished Philip a speedy recovery.
Prime Minister David Cameron is being kept informed of the prince’s progress, a Downing Street spokesman said.
Philip was treated successfully for a blocked coronary artery on Friday.
The Queen was flown to Papworth Hospital in Cambridge Saturday morning to visit her husband as he recovered, the spokeswoman said.
Philip turned 90 in June, and the Duke of Edinburgh said he would gradually “wind down” his workload.
“I reckon I’ve done my bit, I want to enjoy myself now … have less responsibility, less frantic rushing about, less preparation, less trying to think of something to say,” Philip said then, in an interview with the BBC.
He married then-Princess Elizabeth on November 20, 1947, in Westminster Abbey, and has become the longest-serving consort in British history.
Philip has made more than 5,000 public speeches during his working life, according to Buckingham Palace.
