Prince Philip taken to hospital

THE Queen of England’s husband has been taken to hospital for tests after suffering chest pains, Buckingham Palace said.

Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, 90, went from Sandringham to the cardiothoracic unit at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge for precautionary checks, a spokeswoman said.

The Royal Family are spending Christmas at the country retreat in Norfolk.

Papworth describes itself as Britain’s largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and the country’s main heart and lung transplant centre.

It treats more than 22,800 inpatient and 53,400 outpatients each year.

Dickie Arbiter, former press secretary to the Queen, said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s health is actually pretty good given that he is 90.’

“He has had these chest pains before and I don’t think it’s anything untoward, but given his age they are being safe rather than sorry.

“I am sure we are going to see him on Christmas Day and he can look forward to accompanying the Queen in the New Year.”