London: Queen Elizabeth's 90-year-old husband spent Christmas Day in a hospital bed after successful surgery to clear a blocked heart artery, missing the royal family's celebrations at its rural Sandringham estate in eastern England.
Buckingham Palace said Prince Philip, Britain's longest serving consort, was in "good spirits", but he is likely to have to spend much of the holiday season in a heart and chest clinic while doctors monitor his early recovery.
Philip's grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, visited the Papworth hospital near Cambridge to wish their grandfather well after Christmas lunch on Sunday.
The Queen had seen her husband, along with their four children, on Christmas Eve, a day after Philip was rushed to hospital suffering from chest pains.
By coincidence, Elizabeth's annual Christmas Day address, recorded before Philip was taken ill, stressed the importance of the family bond in times of crisis.
"We've seen that it's in hardship that we often find strength from our families," she said. "Families, friends and communities often find a source of courage rising up from within."
Despite his age, Philip has been in generally good health this year, seeing through a hectic schedule which included the wedding of William and Catherine Middleton, a jaunt to Australia and a visit from US President Barack Obama.
On turning 90 in June, he said he was looking forward to slowing down a little, but the Queen, 85, celebrates her 60th year on the throne in 2012, which will involve a busy tour across Britain and several other high-profile engagements.
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