Prince Philip leaves hospital after two-night stay

The Duke of Edinburgh has left hospital after a two night stay, bouncing back from an infection at the age of 96.

The Duke had missed the State Opening of Parliament and Royal Ascot over fears for his health.

He has now left a private hospital in London, quietly slipping out through a back entrance.

He had been admitted to King Edward VII hospital as a precautionary measure, following the advice of a doctor, after becoming ill with an infection arising from a pre-existing condition.

While there was concern for the Duke given his age, he was said to have been out of bed yesterday and in "good spirits".

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said today: "I can confirm that The Duke of Edinburgh left hospital this morning."

The Prince of Wales said his father was "getting better" following a meeting with faith leaders at a Finsbury Park mosque in north London on Wednesday afternoon.

Buckingham Palace declined to discuss specifics of the Duke's current condition. He has previously suffered a recurring bladder infection.

The Duke was at the Queen's side on Tuesday for the opening day of Royal Ascot and a source said he was on "good form" during the event.

He and the Queen were joined by many members of their family, including Charles and Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

He has enjoyed good health throughout much of his life, recovering from a blocked coronary artery in 2011 and a bladder infection in 2012, the latter leading him to miss the majority of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and spend a period in hospital.

His decision to retire from public duties after the summer was not health-related, Buckingham Palace said at the time of the announcement earlier this year.

The Duke is an advocate of healthy eating combined with exercise.

He once said he more or less followed the Atkins diet and he drinks only moderately, and is well-known for his robust constitution.

He told a flu expert at a research centre last year that he had not had the illness for 40 years.

In a statement issued on Wednesday morning Buckingham Palace said: "The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London, as a precautionary measure, for treatment of an infection arising from a pre-existing condition."