The 72-year-old looks sombre in photographs of him leaving King Edward VII’s Hospital in London. He spent 30 minutes by his 99-year-old father’s bedside on Saturday.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who turns 100 in June, is spending his fifth night in hospital as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell. He walked into the medical centre on Tuesday unaided.
The Prince of Wales arrived at the hospital at around 3.20pm on Saturday in a grey Tesla car after leaving his home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire. He left just before 4pm.
Charles is not thought to have seen his father since before Christmas due to coronavirus restrictions. The Duke has been staying at Windsor Castle.
The Duke’s hospital stay has come at the same time grandson Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle were confirmed to be not returning as working royals.
A statement from the Palace said the royals were “saddened” by Meghan and Harry’s decision but that the Sussexes “remain much loved members of the family”.
Royal author Penny Junor told PA: “We do all know he doesn’t like fuss, and he would regard a visit as fuss.”
She added: “Momentous things are happening in the family at the moment and I suppose it’s perfectly possible that Charles wanted to go and talk to his father and reassure him about Harry.”
Philip, the third oldest royal in history, is said to be “in good spirits”. His stay is not coronavirus-related.
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The prince spent a large part of the first lockdown at Birkhall in Scotland with the Duchess of Cornwall.
He said in June 2020: “Well I haven’t seen my father for a long time.
“He’s going to be 99 next week, so yes, or my grandchildren or anything. I’ve been doing the FaceTime.
“It isn’t the same, is it? You really want to give people a hug.”
Queen Elizabeth II, 94, and Philip spent the Christmas period at Windsor Castle, breaking tradition for the first time since 1987.
