Buckingham Palace shares 1976 picture of Queen and Philip to mark World Book Day as duke continues treatment in hospital

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are pictured in the Library at Balmoral Castle in 1976
Anwar Hussein

Buckingham Palace has shared a 1976 image of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to mark World Book Day.

The picture, posted on Instagram, shows the monarch seated at a desk in the library at Balmoral Caste with Philip, who is currently in hospital.

Buckingham Palace revealed on Thursday that Philip, 99, has had a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition.

The Palace said the duke, who turns 100 in June, would remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days.

He has spent 16 nights in hospital - his longest ever stay.

A second image posted on the Royal Family’s Instagram account shows Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.

“The Royal Library is a treasure trove of more than 50,000 books and manuscripts collected by British monarchs over the centuries,” said Buckingham Palace in the image caption.

“This #WorldBookDay the Royal Collection Trust will be sharing books from the Royal Library as well as book-related activities for children and adults throughout the day.”

The palace also included a video of the Duchess of Cornwall.

Camilla, who is joined by broadcaster Dermot O’Leary, ex-junior doctor and author Adam Kay, blogger Louise Pentland and teacher-turned-rapper MC Grammar in a virtual programme of events, said World Book Day “actually means the birth of reading”.

“To actually own your first book is something that you’re never going to forget,” said the duchess.

“That first book will be there forever. And it’s hopefully going to lead children to reading more and more, discovering different authors and different subjects.

“I think for a lot of children out there, World Book Day actually means the birth of reading.”

FILES-BRITAIN-ROYALS-HEALTH-PHILIP
Philip has spent 16 nights in hospital
POOL/AFP via Getty Images

It comes as a second trailer for Harry and Meghan’s highly-anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey was released. 

In the clip, the Duchess of Sussex suggests “The Firm” - widely considered to be shorthand for the institution of the Royal Family - played a part in “perpetuating falsehoods” about her and Harry.

A source close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said the screening of the couple’s Oprah Winfrey interview was still expected to go ahead despite Philip being unwell.

The source told the PA news agency: “There are a lot of people who are going to talk about this until the programme airs, but the programming and all the rest of it is ultimately up to CBS, we’re not involved in that side of things.

“As it stands, I don’t think there is any intention from the programme maker to change its air date.”

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