Duke of Edinburgh leaves hospital (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Duke of Edinburgh leaves hospital

10:59am Monday 20th August 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

The Duke of Edinburgh has left hospital after spending five nights being treated for a recurrence of a bladder infection.

Philip, 91, has been discharged from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where medical staff have been looking after him since last Wednesday.

The Duke was taken ill during his traditional annual summer break with the Queen at Balmoral in Scotland.

During his time at the NHS hospital, he was not visited by the Queen or other family members after being advised by doctors to rest, but he was in regular contact with relatives by telephone.

His latest health scare comes less than three months after he spent five nights in hospital with a bladder infection following the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames.

He had to miss some of the key celebrations marking the Queen's 60-year reign after he was admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in London the day after braving wet and windy elements on a barge for several hours.

Philip also underwent a successful procedure to clear a blocked coronary artery last December and was in hospital for four nights over Christmas.

He looked relaxed as he emerged from the hospital and shook hands with senior members of staff lining his route to a Range Rover parked nearby.

Chief executive Richard Carey, medical director Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen, Vincent Shields, the hospital's general manager, and senior staff nurse Denise Webster were amongst the group who bid him goodbye.

Ms Webster said afterwards: "The Duke was a very good patient, and as he left the hospital he told staff to behave themselves and he said he was going back to enjoy the rest of his holiday."