Headline: Will the General Election go ahead as the Queen mourns Prince Philip's death Headline: Prince Philip dead: The Duke whose exile from Greece led him to the Royal Family LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 8: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, smiles after unveiling a plaque at the end of his visit to Richmond Adult Community College in Richmond on June 8, 2015 in London, England. Prince Philip, officially opened and was shown round the new art, drama and dance facilities at the further education college which offers up to 2,000 courses. (Photo by Matt Dunham - WPA Pool / Getty Images)Headline: Prince Philip dead: The Duke whose exile from Greece led him to the Royal Family
Prince Philip is in the King Edward VII Hospital (Picture: Getty)

The Duke of Edinburgh has travelled from Norfolk to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition, Buckingham Palace said.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh travelled from Norfolk this morning to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition.

‘The admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness’ Doctor.’

The Duke is expected to be in hospital for a few days. He was not taken by ambulance and it was a planned admission.

His admission came as the Queen arrived in Norfolk by train to begin her Christmas break a day after delivering her speech at the State Opening of Parliament.

She caught the 10.42am Great Northern service from King’s Cross station in London and arrived at platform two in King’s Lynn on time, at 12.31pm.

The 93-year-old monarch, carrying a black handbag and wearing a salmon pink coat and patterned headscarf, stepped from the front carriage of the train onto the platform.

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 12: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attends the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York to Jack Brooksbank at St. George's Chapel on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Alastair Grant - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Buckingham Palace said that his admission was ‘precautionary’ and ‘in relation to a pre-existing condition’ (Picture: Getty)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attends the Royal Windsor Horse Show 2019 on May 09, 2019 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The Duke is expected to be in hospital for a few days. He was not taken by ambulance and it was a planned admission (Picture: Getty)

She briefly mingled with passengers before she was escorted through a side exit known as the Royal Gate to a waiting Range Rover.

Sandringham, the Queen’s private estate in Norfolk, is a 30-minute drive from King’s Lynn.

The Queen’s arrival at Sandringham on a Friday is a change from recent years when she has tended to travel on a Thursday.

Passenger Monika Saganowska, 25, who boarded the train at Watlington, the stop before King’s Lynn, said she was unaware the Queen was on board until she arrived at King’s Lynn and saw police on the platform.

She said it was ‘quite exciting’ to discover that the Queen had been on the service, and she was surprised to learn that the monarch had taken public transport.

‘I think it’s great actually,’ said Ms Saganowska.

General view of the King Edward VII hospital, central London, where the Duchess of Cornwall, 59, has been admitted prior to her hysterectomy operation. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday March 5, 2007. The medical centre is the first port of call for royals and is where the Queen had her knee operation. See PA story: ROYAL Camilla. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire.
Prince Philip is at the King Edward VII hospital in London (Picture: PA)
? Licensed to London News Pictures. 20/12/2019. London, UK. Queen Elizabeth II looks out through a rainy window as she begins her journey by train from King's Cross station in London to Sandringham for her Christmas break. Photo credit: LNP
The Queen took the train to Norfolk today for her Christmas stay on the Sandringham estate (Picture: LNP)
Queen Elizabeth II arrives at King's Lynn railway station in Norfolk, after travelling from London at the start of her traditional Christmas break, which will be spent on the Royal estate at Sandringham. PA Photo. Picture date: Friday December 20, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Queen. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire
Events will include the family’s traditional Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene Church (Picture: PA)

‘I always thought she would have some kind of a private train or at least a carriage or something, but I didn’t know that she was taking the public train which I think is great.’

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, 98, who spends much of his time at Sandringham since he retired from public duties in 2017, are due be joined by other members of the royal family for part of the festive period.

Events will include the family’s traditional Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene Church.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte could attend the service for the first time this year, according to reports.

However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be absent, instead opting to spend their first Christmas as parents with the Duchess’s mother Doria Ragland.

Reports have suggested that the Duke of York, who has had a tumultuous end to the year after his disastrous appearance on the BBC’s Newsnight programme, may join the Queen at church.

His attempt to explain his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein backfired and he was heavily criticised for showing a lack of empathy towards Epstein’s victims and remorse over his friendship with the disgraced financier.

Andrew attended the Queen’s pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace earlier this week.

In recent years the Queen has been driven by chauffeur to the church on December 25 while other family members walk the short distance from Sandringham House to join her.

Prince Philip's appearances since he retired from public life

Here is a timeline of Philip’s appearances and health since his retirement from public life in August 2017.

May 4 2017 – Buckingham Palace announces the duke is to retire. Tributes are paid to his years of royal duty.

May 10 and May 17 – Days later, Philip, then 95, is out and about carriage-driving at Windsor and at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

June 10 – The duke celebrates his 96th birthday.

June 13 – The Queen and Philip visit Slough railway station in Berkshire to mark the 175th anniversary of the first rail journey by a monarch.

June 17 – The duke helps the Queen mark her official 91st birthday at the annual Trooping the Colour parade.

June 20 – Philip spends the day at Royal Ascot, where temperatures are so sweltering that the dress code in the Royal Enclosure is relaxed for the first time.

But that evening, he is admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital in London as a precautionary measure, for treatment for an infection arising from a pre-existing condition.

June 21 – The duke misses the State Opening of Parliament. The Prince of Wales steps in to accompany the Queen.

June 22 – Philip is discharged from hospital after a two-night stay.

June 25 – In his first public outing since being in hospital, the duke drives himself to the Royal Windsor Cup Final at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park.

August 2 – On his final official engagement as he retires from public duties, Philip strides with ease around the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in the pouring rain, meeting Royal Marines.

November 11 -The duke makes an appearance at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance.

November 12 – Philip joins the Queen as she watches from a balcony for the first time rather than laying a wreath at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony.

Concerns are expressed for his health when he appears to lean against a pillar for support while standing during the Whitehall service.

November 20 – A week later, the duke is carriage driving at Windsor on the day of his platinum wedding anniversary, and he and the Queen celebrate in the evening with a party for more than 100 family and friends.

December 21 – The Queen and the duke travel by train from London to Norfolk for the start of their traditional Christmas break at Sandringham.

December 25 – The duke joins the royals at church, as Prince Harry’s bride-to-be, Meghan Markle, spends her first Christmas with the Windsors.

Philip attends Sunday church throughout his stay in Sandringham in January and early February.

March 22 2018, Philip reportedly pulls out of a rare engagement with the Queen and Duke of York, marking Andrew’s new role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, because he is under the weather.

March 29 – He misses the Maundy Thursday service with the Queen because of a problem with his hip.

April 1 – The duke is not present at church in Windsor on Easter Sunday.

April 3 – Philip is admitted to the King Edward VII’s Hospital ahead of a planned operation on his hip.

April 4 – The palace says the duke has had a successful hip replacement operation, and is progressing well, but will remain in hospital for several days.

“He is comfortable and in good spirits,” says a spokeswoman.

April 13 – Philip leaves hospital, waving to the media as he is driven away to Windsor Castle to recuperate.

May 11 – The duke makes his first public appearance since convalescing after his surgery when he is seen at the wheel of his Land Rover Freelander, chatting to the Queen, at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

May 19 – Philip walks unaided as he attends the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in Windsor.

June 10 – Philip turns 97.

October 11 – Buckingham Palace tweets a photo of the duke meeting the head of the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at Windsor Castle.

October 12 – Philip attends the wedding of his granddaughter Princess Eugenie.

November 14 – Philip joins the Queen at a glittering private black-tie party held for the Prince of Wales on his 70th birthday at Buckingham Palace, where the Queen pays tribute to their eldest son on behalf of them both.

December 19 – The duke is seen being driven to Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s annual Christmas lunch.

December 25 – Philip misses the royals’ traditional Christmas Day outing to church but is said to be in good health.

January 17 2019 – The duke is involved in a car crash when the Land Rover Freelander he is driving flips over after being in collision with another vehicle near the Sandringham estate.

January 18 – The duke undergoes a medical following the incident.

January 19 – Photographs of the duke emerge driving a Land Rover at Sandringham just two days after the crash, in the pictures he was not wearing a seatbelt.

January 24 – ITV News unearth archive interview footage of a man, known only as Mr Coopy, with whom the duke was involved in a collision in 1964 in the village of Holyport in Berkshire.

January 27 – The duke writes to Emma Fairweather wishing her a “speedy recovery from a very distressing experience” following the crash on January 17.

February 9 – Buckingham Palace announces the duke has voluntarily surrendered his driving licence “after careful consideration”.

December 20 – The duke travels from Norfolk to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition.

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