Prince Philip spends third day in hospital and will have no visitors as doctors treating bladder infection tell him to rest

• Buckingham Palace unsure when the Duke can return home
• The Prince, 91, is responding well to treatment for his recurring bladder infection
• RAF crew tried to fly him to hospital but were thwarted by bad weather

The Duke of Edinburgh has been told to rest by doctors treating his latest bladder infection.
The Queen and other members of the Royal Family have not visited Prince Philip since his admission to hospital.
Doctors say the 91-year-old has responded well to treatment.

Prince Philip was rushed to hospital a few days after visiting Cowes. The active Duke is suffering from a recurring bladder infection

However, it is not yet known when he will be discharged.
A palace source said doctors had ‘suggested’ to the irascible great-grandfather that he should rest and not have visitors to his bedside in the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family remain in ‘constant touch’ with him by telephone, the source added.
The Duke was taken to the hospital by ambulance on Wednesday after an RAF helicopter could not reach him at the Queen’s estate in Balmoral because of bad weather.
He was diagnosed with a repeat of the bladder infection which forced him to miss part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June, when he spent six days in hospital in London.

Prince Philip, seen here at the Dressage in the Eventing during the Olympic Games, has had a busy year and regularly makes public appearances

The Duke of Edinburgh is constantly visiting different parts of the country to fulfill his obligations, but has been forced to stay in bed while doctors treat him

It is the third time in eight months that he has needed hospital treatment, following an operation to clear a blocked artery last December.
Before the heart scare he had been fit and apparently healthy, and led the active life of a man of younger years.
In March this year his grandson Prince Harry said the operation had given him 'a new spurt of life'.
He has been closely monitored by doctors since but his latest health problems have raised questions about his continued workload.
The Duke has carried out more than 100 official engagements since December. In the last three weeks alone he has spent six days at the Olympics, hosted a party for 3,000 guests and travelled between London, Scotland and the south coast.
His latest illness may mean he cannot attend the opening of the Paralympic Games on August 29.
But experts have predicted he will defy doctors to continue with engagements after his release.
It is not the first time the Duke has been in hospital without receiving visitors. In 2008 he was admitted for four days with a chest infection but refused to receive any well-wishers, instead catching up on his paperwork.

Police stand guard at the entrance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary while Britain's Prince Phillip is treated for a bladder infection. He has been told not to receive any visitors

THE DUKE'S DASH TO HOSPITAL

An RAF rescue crew attempted to fly the Duke to hospital when he fell ill, but were stopped by bad weather.

A Sea King helicopter was immediately dispatched to hurry him to the hospital but poor visibility and heavy rain meant the crew, who are used to working in difficult conditions, were unable to reach him.
'The weather was absolutely dreadful,' a source said.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'The RAF can confirm that a search and rescue crew from RAF Lossiemouth in Morayshire was asked to assist with the transfer of a patient.
'However, due to poor weather we were unable to assist.'
The Sea King landed four times during the expedition, but could not get close enough.

Philip went to Balmoral, where the royals often gather during their annual summer break, after attending a number of Olympic events. He was at the Queen’s side during the Opening Ceremony on July 27 and the following day when they toured the Olympic Park.
He then watched his granddaughter Zara Phillips’ Olympic equestrian debut on July 29 and was at the ExCeL exhibition centre a few days later to watch boxing.
The Duke appeared to be in good spirits as he took part in events as part of Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight, in his role as Admiral and member of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
He viewed the racing in the Solent on Tuesday before attending a luncheon on board a yacht, the My Farragon, accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Major General Martin White.
On Monday he had been at a luncheon held at Newport’s Chamber of Commerce, then visited manufacturers AJ Wells and Sons in the town before having dinner at the Pavilion in Cowes.
While in Scotland earlier this month he supported the Queen at engagements including hosting a tea party at Balmoral.
Philip joined the Queen and the Earl and Countess of Wessex at the event on the estate which was attended by around 3,000 guests.
The royals, including the Duke, reportedly looked relaxed during the event, which rounded off the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
It was said to have been only the second time that the Queen’s Deeside home, where the Royal family prize their privacy, was used for such an event.