Prince Philip health:MP unveils plans for Duke's 100th birthday while royal is in hospital
PRINCE PHILIP’s health is causing concern following his admission to a London hospital - but one MP is already making plans to mark the Duke of Edinburgh’s centenary.
Prince Philip: MP discusses plans for Duke’s 100th birthday
On the same day Prince Philip was being admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London, MPs were debating how to mark his centenary, falling on June 10 2021. The House of Commons heard yesterday, after Boris Johnson’s Brexit Withdraw Bill was debated and voted, a special way Sir David Amess was planning to mark the Duke’s milestone birthday.
The Conservative MP for Southend West said a new city could be named after Prince Philip ahead of his 100th birthday - in 18 months.
Sir David, who has been MP for Southend West since 1997, has never made a secret his desire to see Southend-on-Sea, a resort town on the Thames Estuary in Essex with a borough status, become a city.
And he seems to be seeing Prince Philip’s birthday as an chance to make this a reality.
Speaking to MPs on Friday, Sir David said towns and boroughs often acquire city status following contests, and those usually come in concomitance with royal events.
Sir David told the Commons: ”How does a place acquire city status?
“Well, there needs to be a contest, it usually takes place around a royal event.
“The Duke of Edinburgh is going to be 100 in 18 months’ time”.
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Sir David added he is looking at other royal events as well that could help the borough become a city as soon as next year.
He said: ”I am working on other royal events to see how we can fine-tune the timing.
“It would be great if it could happen next year, because it will be the centenary of the mayoralty of Southend”.
Prince Philip was admitted to hospital yesterday, Buckingham Palace confirmed, for “observation and treatment”.
The brief statement read: “The Duke of Edinburgh travelled from Norfolk this morning to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition.
“The admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness's doctor.”
Buckingham Palace didn’t address how the Duke of Edinburgh was taken to hospital, but a royal source added yesterday he was not brought to London with an ambulance.
However, the Daily Mail claimed Prince Philip was flown from Sandringham to London by helicopter, and then transported to hospital by car.
Prince Philip has stayed between early September and yesterday at Wood Farm, a five-bedroom cottage on the Queen’s estate in Norfolk.
There, he is believed to have suffered some health issues, including a flu-like condition and a fall, which left him bed-stricken for a couple of days.
The Queen, who by remaining in London for work hasn’t seen her husband of 72 years for weeks, arrived as planned to King’s Lynn train station shortly after 1pm yesterday.
And her Christmas plans are believed to have remained unchanged despite it isn’t know whether Prince Philip will be able to return to Sandringham by December 25.