The Duke of Edinburgh has a “minor ailment” and is “very frustrated” at not being able to attend the commemorations marking the Battle of Jutland in Orkney, his son-in-law has said.
Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who is married to the Princess Royal, described Philip as “fine” after the Duke had to pull out of the anniversary events following medical advice.
“He’s very frustrated and disappointed that he can’t be here and we’re all very sad that he won’t be with us,” he told Sky News.
“He’s fine. He just has a minor ailment and I think at his age it would be unwise to go and stand in a windswept cemetery for a long period at that stage. ”
Philip, who turns 95 next week, is understood to have no plans to cancel any other forthcoming engagements, and has not attended hospital.
The setback comes just over a week away from a busy run of royal festivities marking the Queen’s official 90th birthday when the Duke is due to join the royal family at a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Trooping the Colour and a street party on The Mall.
Philip’s next publicised engagements are on Thursday when he is set to attend a reception and take the salute at Sound Retreat on Horse Guards Parade in London as Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles, and visit a Veterans Aid hostel.
On Friday, he is due to hold the World Fellowship’s 29th Annual Dinner at Windsor Castle, and a reception for the Chartered Society of Designers at St James’s Palace on June 8, before attending the cricket on the first day of the England v Sri Lanka Test Match at Lord’s on June 9.
On his 95th birthday on Friday June 10, as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, he will preside over a conference at Buckingham Palace attended by the Colonels of the Regiments of the Household Division.
The day also coincides with the start of the Queen’s official birthday commemorations when the royals will gather at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the life and service of the nation’s longest reigning monarch – ahead of a weekend of celebrations.
During the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the Duke was admitted to hospital the day after braving cold, wet and windy conditions on the royal barge during the River Pageant on the Thames.
He missed the Jubilee concert and a service at St Paul’s after being treated for a bladder infection.
