The Duke of Edinburgh has been transferred to St Bartholomew’s hospital in London where doctors will continue to treat him for an infection and a pre-existing heart condition, Buckingham Palace has said. Prince Philip was moved after almost two weeks in the private King Edward VII’s hospital in central London, where he was admitted as a “precautionary measure” on 16 February. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The Duke of Edinburgh was today transferred from King Edward VII’s hospital to St Bartholomew’s hospital where doctors will continue to treat him for an infection, as well as undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition. “The duke remains comfortable and is responding to treatment but is expected to remain in hospital until at least the end of the week.” Philip left the King Edward VII private hospital in central London after 13 nights at about 10am by a back exit. Reports at the scene said he was shielded by umbrellas as he climbed into the back of a waiting ambulance as police officers stood nearby behind barricades keeping back photographers. He had been admitted after falling ill at Windsor Castle, where he and the Queen had been shielding during the pandemic. It is his longest stay in hospital. In June 2013, he spent 11 days after surgery to his abdomen. Philip underwent angioplasty and stenting in 2011 for a blocked coronary artery after being admitted to Papworth hospital in Cambridgeshire over the Christmas period following chest pains. The Queen, their children and grandchildren visited him during his four-night stay, as he spent Christmas and Boxing Day in hospital. Last Tuesday the Earl of Wessex said his father was feeling “a lot better” when it was announced the duke would spend several more days in hospital. Prince Edward said Philip was “looking forward to getting out” and his family were “keeping their fingers crossed”. Prince Charles has been the only family member to visit, spending about 30 minutes at the hospital four days after Philip was admitted. Meanwhile for the Queen it was business, but not quite as usual, for the Queen as her husband of 73 years continued hospital treatment. She unveiled a statue of herself – virtually. In a video call with the governor of South Australia, Hieu Van Le, and premier, Steven Marshall, she saw the statue, by sculptor Robert Hannaford, which has been installed in the grounds of Government House. “It must be quite alarming to suddenly see it out of the window – you’d think, gracious, has she arrived unexpectedly,” remarked the Queen during the call. A “maquette”, or scale model, of the original had been dispatched to the Queen. “I’m glad it’s not quite as big as the original statue,” she said. The royal biographer Penny Junor told PA Media Prince Philip’s demeanour in hospital would be important. “Let’s hope he’s not resigned, let’s hope he’s not being a good patient because I think that would probably be a bad sign – a cantankerous duke is a healthy one,” she said. The author highlighted how the Queen appeared at ease when she encouraged those who were vaccine hesitant to “think about other people rather than themselves” during a video call last week. Junor said: “I think the Queen looked very jolly in a message that she put out the other day about having the vaccine. She doesn’t look to me like someone who is desperately worried and waiting for the phone to ring.”