PRINCE Philip is entering his third week in hospital as Meghan Markle and Harry's explosive Oprah interview went live.
Monday will see the Duke of Edinburgh spend his 21st day in a London hospital today following his 'successful' heart operation.
He is recovering at King Edward VII hospital – while The Queen's mind is "only on duty and Philip", and she is said to be ignoring the media storm around the Duke and Duchess' candid interview.
Tory MP Andrew Rosendell said that the couple should wait until the Iron Duke's condition had improved before continuing their "publicity drive".
A Hollywood insider who is reportedly close to the Sussexes claims Meghan wouldn't push back the interview.
The source told the Mail: "Even if Meghan had the choice to postpone the Oprah special she said she wouldn't because it has absolutely nothing to do with Prince Philip and that this is just an excuse by the palace to keep her muzzled.
"Prince Harry has no say on the matter. What's done is done. Meghan said now the whole world can see what she had to endure for months on end.
"No support whatsoever and now even across the pond, still no loyalty or support."
Follow our Prince Philip live blog below for the very latest on his condition…
- Sarah Grealish
TIMELINE OF PHILIP’S STAY IN HOSPITAL
- Tuesday February 16 2021 – The duke is admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital on a precautionary basis after feeling unwell.
- Friday February 19 – Sources say Philip is now expected to remain in hospital for “observation and rest” over the weekend and into the next week.
- Saturday February 20 – The Prince of Wales makes a 200 mile-round trip to see his father, spending around half an hour at the hospital.
- Tuesday February 23 – Seven days after the duke was admitted, the Palace says he is being treated for an infection and is “comfortable and responding to treatment”, but is not expected to leave hospital for several more days. The Earl of Wessex says the duke is a “lot better” and looking forward to getting out.
- Monday March 1 – Philip is transferred in an ambulance to St Bartholomew’s Hospital for treatment for an infection and testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition, Buckingham Palace says. The duke is shielded from public view by large umbrellas as he leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital.
- Thursday March 4 – Buckingham Palace confirms Philip has undergone a ‘successful’ heart operation and will remain in hospital for a ‘number of days’
- Friday March 5 – After his successful heart operation, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Philip was transferred back to King Edward VII hospital to recover this morning
LATEST UPDATE ON PRINCE PHILIP
There have been no updates on Prince Philip’s condition since Friday.
He remains at the King Edward VII hospital, where he is recovering after heart surgery.
Buckingham Palace said on Friday: “Following The Duke of Edinburgh’s successful procedure at St Bartholomew’s Hospital on Wednesday, His Royal Highness has been transferred to King Edward VII’s Hospital this morning.
“The Duke is expected to remain in hospital for continuing treatment for a number of days.”
MEGHAN AND HARRY 'SEPARATED THE INSTITUTION AND FAMILY'
Omid Scobie, author of Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan says the interview showed the couple were able to "distinguish between the institution of the monarchy and the Royal Family".
He says: "Certainly when it came to Harry and Meghan's happiness within the institution, their feelings of being unprotected not being looked after, these are things I've already tried to challenge the palace on myself."
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There was a moment across the entire United States where jaws dropped when Meghan went into detail about how a Royal Family member questioned or expressed concern about how dark Archie's skin may be."
He says: "It gives us a much deeper insight into the struggles they faced not just the institution of the monarchy but the family themselves."
He adds: "We'd heard a lot of worry over the last few weeks that the couple might disrespect the Queen in this Oprah special, they may hurt her, in fact we discovered or heard more details about just how close they've been with her Majesty, even since the time that they stepped away from their royal roles."
- Sarah Grealish
ARCHIE'S BIRTHRIGHT TAKEN AWAY 'BECAUSE OF RACE'
The Duchess of Sussex has suggested it was her son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor's "birthright" to be a prince and the decision not to give him a title went against convention.
She expressed her shock at being told he would not get security and the idea of him "not being safe", and said she wanted him to have the title so he could have police protection.
Meghan also suggested that the decision was taken because of Archie's race.
The duchess shared her upset at the "idea of the first member of colour in this family, not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be".
"It's not their right to take it away," she added.
- Sarah Grealish
CONTINUED
Chris Ship, ITV News’ Royal Editor added: "So that only leaves two family members.
"The two people you are left with is either his father Prince Charles or his brother Prince William or their wives.
"That's pretty serious. They protected the Queen throughout this.
"But equally they are criticising the institution of which she is head, and therefore you're criticising his grandmother the Queen."
Mr Ship's claims mean that the alleged comments about Archie's skin colour could have come from either future Kings of England.
- Sarah Grealish
THE QUEEN AND PHILIP 'DID NOT MAKE RACE REMARKS'
THE QUEEN and Prince Philip were NOT the royals who expressed concern about Archie's skin colour, an expert has said.
The Duchess of Sussex said there had been conversations with Prince Harry and a "family" member about their unborn son and what colour his skin would be – and "what that would mean or look like".
But despite making the serious allegations, Meghan and Harry refused to reveal who made the "racist" accusations in the Royal Family.
Chris Ship, ITV News' Royal Editor, claimed that his sources said the conversation did not involve the Queen or her husband, Prince Philip.
The Royal expert told Good Morning Britain: "It was a conversation that Harry had with his family members.
"I should be clear here, I've been told it's not the Queen, and it's not the Duke of Edinburgh.
- Sarah Grealish
MEGHAN INTERVIEW: THE 5 BIGGEST BOMBSHELL MOMENTS FROM OPRAH INTERVIEW
- Meghan broke down as she revealed ‘I didn’t want to live anymore’
- The Duchess claimed Kate made HER cry in row over flower girl dress
- Harry and Meghan married three days before their wedding at Windsor Castle
- Meghan said Archie wasn’t made a prince after talks about his skin colour
- Pregnant Meghan revealed she is expecting a GIRL
EXPLAINED: WHY ISN’T PRINCE PHILIP KING?
The reason for Philip not becoming King when he married the Queen stems from a parliamentary law.
The law relating to succession doesn’t relate to bloodline – only gender.
The spouse of a ruling king or queen is known as a consort.
Strangely, in British royalty a man who marries the queen is known as the prince consort but a woman who marries the king will be the queen consort.
HEART PROBLEMS
Philip has been treated for heart problems in the past and in 2011 was rushed to hospital by helicopter from Sandringham after suffering chest pains as the royal family was preparing for Christmas.
In the serious health scare, he was treated for a blocked coronary artery at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire and underwent a minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting.
- Katie Davis
JUST HALF AN HOUR TO GO UNTIL MEGHAN OPRAH INTERVIEW AIRS IN US
The interview titled Oprah with Meghan and Harry; A CBS Primetime Special is set to air on Sunday, March 7 at 8pm PST/EST (1am UK time) on CBS.
It will also be available online via their live TV player.
It will initially feature Meghan alone before she is joined by Prince Harry and will see the couple dive into their move from the UK along with how life was like for them in the Royal Family.
- Katie Davis
INTERVIEW ‘COMING AT DIFFICULT TIME’
Royal expert Katie Nicholl has said that tonight’s Oprah interview has come at a “difficult time” as Prince Philip continues his recovery.
She told Entertainment Tonight: “There are calls by some royal commentators and experts who believe that this interview should be rescheduled and aired at a less sensitive time for the Royal Family.
“And there are even some reports circulating that Prince Harry’s being asked to come home to see his grandfather.
“The timing really couldn’t be any worse for the Royal Family. This interview is coming at such a difficult time.”
- Katie Davis
WHEN IS MEGHAN AND HARRY’S INTERVIEW ON TV?
US
The interview titled Oprah with Meghan and Harry; A CBS Primetime Special is set to air on Sunday, March 7 at 8pm PST/EST (1am UK time) on CBS.
It will also be available online via their live TV player.
It will initially feature Meghan alone before she is joined by Prince Harry and will see the couple dive into their move from the UK along with how life was like for them in the Royal Family.
UK
For UK viewers, you will have to wait until the following day – Monday, March 8.
ITV are set to show the interview in full from 9pm. Brits can also live stream it on the ITV Hub.
- Joseph Gamp
WHEN DOES PRINCE PHILIP TURN 100?
Prince Philip will celebrate his 100th birthday on June 10 this year.
He is the oldest male member of the British Royal Family to have ever lived.
Although royal insiders say he wants “no fuss” for his big day and “doesn’t want anything to do with” the celebrations.
- Joseph Gamp
HARRY AND WILLIAM ‘TO JOINTLY UNVEIL DIANA STATUE’ AND LOOK TO ‘DRAW A LINE’ UNDER MEGXIT ROW
PRINCE Harry hopes to unveil a statue of Princess Diana with his brother Prince William as they look to “draw a line” under the ongoing Megxit row, an insider has claimed.
According to a source close to the Duke of Sussex, he has insisted he wants to be at the event this summer despite any fallout from his and Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, which airs in the US tonight.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
MEGHAN MARKLE INTERVIEW: THE LATEST
- The Queen is set to ignore tonight’s Oprah interview with Prince Harry and Meghan
- Royal aides believe Meghan Markle will reveal all about her rift with Kate Middleton
- There are fears Prince Andrew may be dragged into the Meghan Markle bullying probe
- Meghan is claimed to have ‘flown into a rage’ about the colour of blankets and humiliated royal staff
- Royal aides have vowed to ‘come out swinging’ against Meghan Markle
- Joseph Gamp
TIMELINE: THE LIFE OF PRINCE PHILIP
- Joseph Gamp
PRINCE PHILIP ‘ASKED CHARLES TO VISIT HIM IN HOSPITAL’
Prince Philip asked Charles to come and visit him in hospital to discuss the future of the Royal Family, an insider revealed.
Last weekend, Prince Charles visited his father in hospital and according to the Queen’s former press officer Dickie Arbiter, the visit would have been at Philip’s “request”.
Speaking on True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat, Arbiter explained that Philip was likely concerned about the future of the Royal Family.
“I think it was at the request of the Duke that the Prince of Wales visited. To lay the ground. Look the man is 99, he is in with an infection,” he said.
“My guess is that he will come out, he will walk out and he will go back to Windsor. But eventually he is going to die and he was just saying to Charles, ‘one day you are going to be the leading man of the family.’”
- Joseph Gamp
DUKE OF EDINBURGH TREATED FOR HEART PROBLEMS IN THE PAST
Prince Philip has been treated for heart problems in the past.
In 2011, the Duke of Edinburgh was rushed to hospital from Sandringham after experiencing chest pains in the run up to Christmas.
He was treated for a blocked coronary artery at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire, and also underwent a minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting.
- Joseph Gamp
QUEEN 'WILL NOT WATCH' HARRY AND MEGHAN OPRAH INTERVIEW – REPORT
The Queen will "ignore" the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's much-anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey, it has been reported.
Harry and Meghan's televised conversation with the famous talk show host, which has fuelled tensions within the monarchy, will air in the US on Sunday night before being broadcast on ITV on Monday.
The Sunday Times reported the monarch will not watch the programme and is instead focusing on national issues, while the paper said royal courtiers have branded the interview a "circus".
Meanwhile, the Sunday Express reported that The Queen's mind is "only on duty and Philip".
In extracts of the Oprah Winfrey interview released over the last few days, Meghan has criticised the constraints she faced as a working royal, and said it was "liberating" to be able to "say yes" to a request for an interview with the US chat show host.
- Joseph Gamp
RAIL FIRM APOLOGISES FOR 'DISTRESSING' PRINCE PHILIP BLUNDER
A rail firm has apologised after it accidentally informed customers that Prince Philip had passed away,the Daily Record reports.
A TransPennine Express notice read: “We are saddened by the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.”
The company said in a statement last night that the notice had been removed and "apologised for any distress this may have caused".
- Joseph Gamp
ROYAL FAMILY HAVE ‘MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT THAN OPRAH CHAT’ SAYS AIDES
The Royal family have “more important things to worry about” than Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, according to royal aides.
Two trailers of the TV talk promising “shocking” royal revelations were released yesterday as the frail Prince Philip, 99 moved hospital for heart checks.
Buckingham Palace aides have told The Telegraph that the family’s focus is solely on the poorly Duke.
One said: “The family is very worried about him and their thoughts are very much with him rather than this Oprah interview. They have much more important things to worry about.”
While another senior aide said: “This programme is really not something we are focusing on at the moment.”
- Joseph Gamp
THE QUEEN’S TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO PHILIP
The Queen recently paid a touching tribute to ill husband Prince Philip by wearing the silver brooch she donned for their engagement 74 years ago.
The 94-year-old monarch, given her coronavirus injection weeks ago, was pictured wearing the special brooch in a video call where she dubbed Covid a “plague”.
Her Majesty first wore the six-petal diamond flower brooch as Princess Elizabeth, aged 21.
Official black and white photos show the future Queen wearing the jewellery next to her husband-to-be for the announcement in July 1947.
It was given to her by the Royal Household for her 21st birthday weeks earlier and is rarely seen.
- Joseph Gamp
ROYAL STAFF NICKNAMED PRINCE HARRY 'THE HOSTAGE', SAYS INSIDER
Yesterday it emerged that royal staff who worked with Meghan gave Harry the nickname “The Hostage” before the couple left Britain for a new life in the States.
Employees claimed they were living in a “climate of fear” where they were routinely humiliated and subjected to unreasonable demands.
A staff insider said: “Everyone would welcome Harry back on his own. He is still Prince Harry.
“But after this interview you have to question whether Meghan has any intention in ever returning to Britain.
"Because it makes it impossible to sit down in a room with family and staff after you’ve done this Oprah interview.”
- Joseph Gamp
MEGHAN MARKLE WAS LEFT GUTTED WHEN THE QUEEN REJECTED HER PLEA TO LIVE AT WINDSOR CASTLE
MEGHAN was left gutted when the Queen rejected her plea to live in a wing at Windsor Castle, it has emerged.
The Duchess of Sussex asked Harry if he could persuade Her Majesty to let them have private rooms in the 950-year-old building. The Queen instead gave the couple nearby Frogmore Cottage.
A royal source said: “Meghan wanted a wing at Windsor Castle.
“She asked Harry to have a word. But the Queen politely turned down the request. The castle will eventually be given to Prince Charles.
“Harry and Meghan were initially delighted with Frogmore Cottage but in the end it was wrong for them and they were isolated from everyone.”
- Joseph Gamp
MEGHAN MARKLE ‘MAY DO ANOTHER OPRAH INTERVIEW TO COMBAT BULLYING CLAIMS AGAINST HER’
The Duchess of Sussex may do another Oprah interview to combat bullying allegations against her, it has been claimed.
Sources say the duchess is keen to go on the offensive after last night’s interview.
Aides are said to be plotting a sit-down sequel, with either Oprah or her CBS TV anchor friend Gayle King.
A TV insider said: “The Oprah interview isn’t necessarily a one-off. The door has been left open for the couple to come back again and talk about their lives.
“Oprah and Gayle have both been supportive and understanding of their plight behind closed doors and are champions of them. From a TV perspective and a financial point of view, the door would be wide open for a second show. The revenue raised is spectacular.”
Source: Read Full Article
