Queen visits Philip in hospital

The Duke of Edinburgh has spent a fifth night in hospital recovering from an exploratory operation on his abdomen.

The Queen marked her husband's 92nd birthday with a visit to his bedside on Monday night, as Buckingham Palace described him as "comfortable and in good spirits".

He was also visited at the London Clinic by his son the Earl of Wessex separately.

The Duke is progressing according to plans following his operation on Friday and once out of hospital will spend two months convalescing, said the Palace.

In a short statement the Palace said: "His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh is progressing according to plans at this early stage. He is comfortable and in good spirits. He will remain in hospital for up to two weeks, and it is expected he will then be taking a period of convalescence of approximately two months."

Edward has described the Duke as doing "well" after his visit. His visit lasted 20 minutes and as he left he was asked by the waiting press how his father was and replied: "Well, thank you".

The Duke received the good wishes of the Prime Minister on his birthday and gun salutes have been fired across the UK to mark the milestone.

David Cameron took to Twitter to send a birthday message to Philip: "Wishing the Duke of Edinburgh a very happy 92nd birthday as he recovers in hospital today."

The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41-gun royal salute at noon in Green Park and this was followed an hour later by a 62-round salvo by the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London. Gun salutes were fired around the country from Edinburgh Castle in Scotland to Hillsborough Castle in Co Down, Northern Ireland.

Details of the original symptoms behind his admission have not been released, but it is thought the procedure did not involve his heart or bladder, organs the Duke has experienced problems with before. It is believed that Philip has been visited on a daily basis by royal doctor Professor John Cunningham.