The Duke of Edinburgh was on Thursday in a London hospital as a precautionary measure after being admitted on Tuesday.
Prince Philip, 99, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, was said to be in “good spirits” in the private King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone.
He was admitted on the advice of doctors after feeling unwell. He walked into the hospital unaided and does not have Covid-19.
Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday that the Duke was expected to remain in hospital for a few days of “observation and rest”. Police officers were pictured outside the hospital on Thursday.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office said that he had sent his "best wishes to the Duke of Edinburgh as he undergoes a few days of rest in hospital".
The Queen, 94, is at Windsor Castle, where the couple have self-isolated for most of the pandemic. They were inoculated against Covid-19 last month.
The royal family continued its duties on Wednesday, with the Queen speaking to Royal Navy Admiral Tony Radakin from Windsor, while Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited a hospital in Birmingham, central England.
Prince Philip retired from public duties in 2017 at the age of 96 following two nights in hospital with an infection. He had a hip replacement operation in 2018.
In January 2019, he was uninjured after his vehicle was involved in a traffic accident near the royal Sandringham estate in eastern England. Two people were injured in the collision.
He spent four nights at King Edward VII Hospital in December 2019, where he was treated for what was described as a "pre-existing condition".
Since his retirement, he has rarely been seen in public. He attended the wedding ceremony of his granddaughter Princess Beatrice in July 2020, shortly before celebrating his 73rd wedding anniversary.
The latest spell in hospital renewed concerns about the Duke's health before his 100th birthday in June this year.
The Duke, the longest-serving consort in British history, was born on the Greek island of Corfu. His uncle, King Constantine of Greece, was forced to abdicate and Philip fled the country with his parents and four sisters, settling in France.
Philip was introduced to Princess Elizabeth, the future queen, in July 1939 and they kept in touch during the Second World War. The pair married at Westminster Abbey in London in 1947.
The couple celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary in November 2017 at Windsor. The Queen has referred to her husband as her "strength and stay".
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
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Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
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7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
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10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
