UNITED KINGDOM, August 17 ------ The Duke of Edinburgh has been taken to hospital as a "precautionary measure" after a recurrence of a bladder infection, Buckingham Palace has said. Prince Philip, who is 91, was driven by ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary while staying at Balmoral with the Queen, a spokesperson said.

The duke originally suffered the infection shortly before the Diamond Jubilee concert on 4 June. He is likely to remain in the NHS hospital for the next few days. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are at their private residence of Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate, while the Earl and Countess of Wessex are at Balmoral with the Queen, BBC correspondent Peter Hunt says.

It is not known whether other royals are there, but a palace spokesman said it was usual for members of the royal family to be in residence at Balmoral during the summer period. The duke has been seen at public engagements in Cowes over the last few days. Michael Dunkason, from Ryde on the Isle of Wight, saw him come ashore from the Galatea to Cowes at about 09:00 BST on Wednesday morning. He said Philip was "steadily walking up the steps and walked briskly along the jetty". It is the third time Prince Philip has been in hospital in the last nine months: he also spent four days in hospital over Christmas, following an operation to clear a blocked heart artery.

Source: bbc.co.uk