The Duke of Edinburgh will have planned hip surgery today at the King Edward VII Hospital where he will go under general anaesthetic.
Buckingham Palace has not revealed exact details of the operation, and it is unclear whether he is having a hip replacement or a more minor procedure.
It is understood, however, that The Queen’s husband will be operated on while he is under a general anaesthetic.
Anaesthesia carries a higher risk for elderly people, not least because the process can be complicated and challenging.
But Prince Philip, who turns 97-years-old in a few weeks time, is still very active, so the risk lessens.
The Duke’s operation is expected to take between 60-90 minutes, however, his recovery may take up to a year.
For the next few months, it is highly likely that he will need a walking aid or a wheelchair to cause him as little discomfort as possible.
Prince Philip has been in pain for over a month now and has been forced to cancel a number of rare public engagements.
Last Sunday, he missed the traditional Easter Day church service at Windsor Castle due to his injury. A few days before, The Queen’s husband also missed the Maundy Thursday service at St George’s Chapel.
The week before that, Prince Philip pulled out of an engagement where he was due to formally hand his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards onto his son, Prince Andrew, but could not attend as he was feeling unwell.
The Duke of Edinburgh retired from public duties in August 2017, although he still attends the occasional engagement.
