The Duke of Edinburgh has left the NHS hospital where he had heart surgery and been moved back to the private King Edward VII’s hospital for continuing treatment, Buckingham Palace has said. Philip, 99, had a successful procedure for an existing heart condition at St Bartholomew’s hospital in the City of London on Wednesday, three months before his 100th birthday. The palace said in a statement: “Following the Duke of Edinburgh’s successful procedure at St Bartholomew’s hospital on Wednesday, His Royal Highness has been transferred to King Edward VII’s hospital this morning. The duke is expected to remain in hospital for continuing treatment for a number of days.” The duke has spent 17 nights hospital, his longest ever stay. He was initially admitted to King Edward VII’s, the royal family’s favoured hospital, in central London on 16 February after feeling unwell at Windsor Castle, before being moved by ambulance to St Bartholomew’s on Monday. Concern will be heightened for the duke because of his advanced age, with the Duchess of Cornwall saying this week that he was “slightly improving” and adding: “We’ll keep our fingers crossed.” The news was announced amid growing tensions in the royal family before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s televised Oprah interview. Meghan has said in an extract that she could not be expected to stay silent if “the firm” played a part in “perpetuating falsehoods” about her and Harry. The Sussexes have faced calls for the broadcast on Sunday to be postponed out of respect for Philip. Buckingham Palace, meanwhile, has begun an investigation into allegations, which surfaced in the Times, that Meghan drove out two personal assistants and “humiliated” staff, leaving them in tears, which she denies.