Prince Philip taken to hospital for surgery

He hasn't been seen in public since Christmas.

The royal family has confirmed that Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, 96, has been admitted to King Edward VII Hospital on Tuesday for a planned hip operation.

A spokeswoman said, "Further updates will be issued when appropriate."

The Prince retired from public life in August 2017 with his last engagement involving meeting members of the Royal Marines and veterans at a military parade.

In the time since Elizabeth ascended to the throne, it is believed Prince Philip carried out 22,000 royal engagements.

He was last seen at a Christmas Day church service but was unable to make the Easter church service over the weekend, reportedly due to pain in his hip.

The Prince has been hospitalised in the past, in 2011 he spent Christmas in the hospital for angioplasty treatment of a blockage in his coronary arteries. While there have been other treatments, nothing has been publicly spoken about. 

The Queen has previously praised Philip's devotion, calling him her rock.