Duke of Edinburgh in hospital for planned hip surgery, says Buckingham Palace

The duke missed an event at Windsor Castle last week due to problems with his hip

Prince Philip has been admitted to hospital for hip surgery (AFP/Getty )

The Duke of Edinburgh has been hospitalised for planned surgery on his hip, Buckingham Palace says.

The 96-year-old husband of the Queen will undergo surgery on Wednesday.

“His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London this afternoon, for planned surgery on his hip which will take place tomorrow,” a palace spokeswoman said.

The duke is said to have first complained of hip pain last week when he missed a Windsor Castle event he was due to attend with the Queen.

He stepped down from public duties last year, but the palace stressed that the decision was not health-related.

Since stepping down, he has still attended occasional events with the Queen.

The Queen Mother underwent two successful hip operations in the 1990s, first when she was 95-years old and the second when she was 97.

Philip does not walk with the aid of a stick as the Queen Mother did, and last week was seen driving himself around Windsor Great Park, leading to speculation he may have a problem with torn cartilage, the Press Association reports.