Prince Philip Misses Church With Infection

The Duke of Edinburgh missed the morning church service at Balmoral as doctors continue to treat him for a bladder infection.

The Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall and the Earl and Countess of Wessex attended the traditional service at Crathie Kirk close to the Queen's Balmoral estate.

Prince Philip, 91, has been at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary since Wednesday following a recurrence of the infection that forced him to spend five days in a London hospital in June.

Officials have said the Duke is responding well to his treatment, which is understood to include intravenous antibiotics.

Doctors have ordered bed rest and so far no members of the Royal Family have made the 50-mile journey from Balmoral to visit him, but they are said to be in constant contact by phone.

The Queen appears to be relaxed as she continues her summer break on her 50,000 acre estate, driving herself around on Saturday in a Range Rover, wearing sunglasses and smiling.

An RAF search and rescue helicopter was scrambled to fly Philip to hospital on Wednesday but poor visibility and heavy rain prevented them from reaching him and he made the journey of almost 50 miles from the castle in the Cairngorms by road in an ambulance instead.

His latest health scare comes less than three months after he spent five nights in hospital with a bladder infection following the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames.

He had to miss some of the key celebrations for the Queen's 60-year reign after he was admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in London the day after braving wet and windy elements on a barge for several hours.

Philip also had a successful procedure to clear a blocked coronary artery in December and was in hospital for four nights over Christmas.

Prince Harry previously said the operation had given his grandfather "a new spurt of life".

Philip went to Balmoral, where the royals often retreat during the summer, after attending several Olympic events.

He was with the Queen during the Opening Ceremony on July 27 and the next day when they toured the Olympic Park.

He then saw his granddaughter Zara Phillips' Olympic equestrian debut and watched boxing a few days later.

The Duke also appeared to be in good spirits recently when he took part in events as part of Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight.

When he was in Scotland earlier this month, he supported the Queen at engagements including hosting a tea party at Balmoral.

It is not yet known whether he will attend his next official engagement - accompanying the Queen to the opening of the London 2012 Paralympic Games on August 29.