File picture taken on March 20, 2013 Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, attends the official opening of the ZSLTiger Territory enclosure at London Zoo in central London. AFP photo/ LEON NEAL
LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip walked out of hospital on Monday, 10 days after the 92-year-old underwent exploratory abdominal surgery.
The royal patriarch, who went under the knife on June 7, smiled and waved as he left the private London Clinic in the centre of the British capital.
He had been expected to remain in hospital for up to two weeks following the operation, and he plans to spend two months off duty recuperating.
Buckingham Palace said the prince was in "good spirits" on Monday.
Officials insist he is otherwise in robust health.
Wearing a double-breasted blazer and carrying a large hardback book, the Duke of Edinburgh joked with nurses as he left and shook hands with senior hospital staff on the doorstep.
He then walked briskly to his waiting vehicle, getting into the passenger side unaided.
He lowered the window to wave and smile at people waiting outside the hospital.
BBC television said he was heading to Windsor Castle, west of London, where the royals often spend their time off when based in the capital.
Prince was admitted to hospital on June 6, checking in after a Buckingham Palace garden party.
He underwent planned surgery the following day.
The palace has not said why he needed the operation, only that it followed abdominal investigations the week before. (AFP)
