Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip has heart surgery

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was treated for a blocked coronary artery and asuccessful "invasive procedure of coronary stenting" was performed, the Buckingham Palace said. A Palace spokesman earlier said he was undergoing "precautionary tests" at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge last night, where the royal family traditionally spends its Christmas break."He was taken to Papworth for precautionary tests after experiencing chest pains," the spokeswoman said. "We don't have anything further to add at the moment."[caption id="attachment_164419" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="Prince Philip is the longest-serving royal consort andcelebrated 64 years of marriage in November. AFP"][/caption]No more details of the condition of the Greek-born prince were immediately available. No one at the hospital was immediately available for comment.Philip, a pivotal figure in the House of Windsor who is known as a blunt-talking character, had been staying with other members of the royal family on their Sandringham country estate in Norfolk, eastern England, according to the BBC.Despite his age, Philip has generally been in good health and has continued a busy round of charity work and social engagements.He was reported to be taken in a helicopter to Papworth, which is the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital.Former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth, Dickie Aribiter, told BBC: "He has had these chest pains before and I don't think it's anything untoward, but given his age they are being safe rather than sorry. I am sure we are going to see him on Christmas Day and he can look forward to accompanying the Queen in the new year.Born on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921, he served in Britain's Royal Navy before marrying Elizabeth in 1947. They have four children, including the heir to the throne, Charles.The prince has no clear-cut constitutional role. In private he is regarded as the unquestioned head of his family, but protocol obliges the man dubbed "the second handshake" to spend his public life one step behind his wife.Agencies