Chest infection keeps Duke in hospital for second night

THE Duke of Edinburgh spent a second night in hospital being treated for a chest infection.

The 86-year-old Duke walked into the private King Edward VII Hospital on Thursday afternoon for "assessment and treatment".

He was reported to be sitting up and working on his correspondence yesterday at the central London hospital favoured by the Royal Family.

Buckingham Palace said the Duke's programme of engagements for the weekend had been cancelled, but two visits on Monday are still on his diary.

He is being treated by the Physician to the Queen, Harley Street doctor Professor John Cunningham.

The Duke played a full role in last week's state visit by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France

, but he was forced to pull out of a memorial service for Sir Edmund Hillary on Wednesday.

A palace spokesman said: "The Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital for assessment and treatment for a chest infection.

"His Royal Highness's programme of engagements for the weekend have been cancelled."

The Duke was expected to attend a dinner for Macmillan Cancer Support at the Harte and Garter Hotel in Windsor last night. He did not have any engagements scheduled for today or tomorrow.

On Monday, he is due to attend two engagements at Windsor Castle, a council meeting and a dinner to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. He is scheduled to accompany the Queen on a visit to the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth on Thursday.

Philip, who has been married to the Queen since 1947, has generally enjoyed good health even into old age, with most of his ailments being sports related.

But he is likely to be monitored closely during his current illness because of his age.