Taking the reins! Duke of Edinburgh goes carriage driving around Windsor Great Park just four days before his 95th birthday 

  • Philip, 94, was spotted in his carriage in Windsor Great Park this morning
  • He was forced to miss an engagement last week following medical advice
  • But he has since attended public engagements including the Epsom Derby
  • The Prince has been a keen carriage driver since retiring from polo in 1971

By Unity Blott For Mailonline

Published: 10:27 EST, 6 June 2016 | Updated: 12:12 EST, 6 June 2016

After recovering from a mystery illness, he has enjoyed a busy week back on royal duty - attending the Rifles' Sounding Retreat, visiting a charity hostel and cheering the horses on at Epsom.

And today, Prince Philip was firmly back in the saddle as he set out for a ride in his carriage in Windsor Great Park in the morning sunshine.

Wrapping up in a thick navy coat, hat and gloves, the Duke looked in his element as he sped along in the Berkshire grounds, accompanied by two female grooms.

Scroll down for video 

Prince Philip was spotted enjoying a ride in his carriage in Windsor Great Park in the morning sunshine today

Prince Philip was spotted enjoying a ride in his carriage in Windsor Great Park in the morning sunshine today

Accompanied by two female grooms, Philip looked in his element as he sped along in the Berkshire grounds

Accompanied by two female grooms, Philip looked in his element as he sped along in the Berkshire grounds

Philip, who turns 95 this week, has been a keen carriage driver since 1971 when he officially retired from playing polo - believing it was the perfect sport for someone in ‘middle age’.  

In his book '30 years on and off the box seat' The Duke of Edinburgh describes the appeal of the sport.

'I am getting old, my reactions are getting slower, and my memory is unreliable, but I have never lost the sheer pleasure of driving a team through the British countryside,' he explains.

'I have been fortunate to have had a longer innings than most, and I have no intention of giving up while I have a team of willing ponies and dedicated staff and while I can still cope with the challenges which carriage driving presents me with.'

Philip, who turns 95 this week, has been a keen carriage driver since 1971 when he officially retired from polo

Philip, who turns 95 this week, has been a keen carriage driver since 1971 when he officially retired from polo

When he first took up carriage driving, Philip described it as the the perfect sport for someone in ¿middle age¿

When he first took up carriage driving, Philip described it as the the perfect sport for someone in ‘middle age’

In 2010 he escaped major injury following a carriage driving accident - while a female groom less than half his age had to be taken to hospital.

The prince was out driving in the grounds at Windsor Castle when the ponies pulling his carriage were startled and bolted.

As a result the carriage hit a tree stump, jolting the occupants and leaving the Queen’s husband with ‘a minor injury’ to his ankle.

Sources said he refused to see a doctor or go to hospital and by the afternoon of the same day was ‘out and about’ in the gardens again. 

Prince Philip was back on public duty today after being forced to pull out of this week's Battle of Jutland commemorations on Orkney due to ill health

Prince Philip was back on public duty today after being forced to pull out of this week's Battle of Jutland commemorations on Orkney due to ill health

The Duke looked relaxed and in good spirits as he toured New Belvedere House, flagship hostel of the Veterans Aid organisation, in the east end of London

The Duke looked relaxed and in good spirits as he toured New Belvedere House, flagship hostel of the Veterans Aid organisation, in the east end of London

Meanwhile the young female groom, who was not named, was taken to hospital for an x-ray on an injury to her elbow.

Last week, Philip was forced to miss the Battle of Jutland commemorations in Orkney due to ill health - but within days, he was back on duty as he visited New Belvedere House, flagship hostel of the Veterans Aid organisation, in the east end of London. 

And the Prince proved he has lost none of his wit despite concerns about his health, with onlookers reporting he was laughing and joking with residents.

When he walked into the building's common room where veterans were playing on a snooker table, rumoured to have once been owned by former Beatle Ringo Starr, he quipped 'when are they going to throw you out?' to one and got the reply 'as soon as possible'. 

Back to his best: When Philip walked into the building's common room where veterans were playing on a snooker table, he quipped 'when are they going to throw you out?' and got the reply, 'as soon as possible'

Back to his best: When Philip walked into the building's common room where veterans were playing on a snooker table, he quipped 'when are they going to throw you out?' and got the reply, 'as soon as possible'

The Duke of Edinburgh meets Lady Rothermere at the Veterans Aid hostel. The official visit in Lime House was his first engagement involving the public since he followed medical advice and cancelled a visit to Orkney

The Duke of Edinburgh meets Lady Rothermere at the Veterans Aid hostel. The official visit in Lime House was his first engagement involving the public since he followed medical advice and cancelled a visit to Orkney

He also met former Army Air Corps veteran Nathan Rooke, who once performed guard duty at Buckingham Palace and other royal residences before he became homeless.

Last week was not the first time that ill health has forced him to pull out of events - from 2011 to 2013 he was hospitalised four time for a variety of ailments.

Around Christmas 2011, Philip suffered chest pains and was admitted to Papworth Hospital - near the Royal Family's Sandringham estate - for emergency treatment.

The Duke had a coronary stent fitted to improve his blood flow after doctors discovered he had a blocked artery. 

The Prince talks to Brian Scott (right), who served in the 2nd Royal Anglian Regiment

The Prince talks to Brian Scott (right), who served in the 2nd Royal Anglian Regiment

The hostel is undergoing a £7 million upgrade and Philip posed for photos as he chatted to residents including Philip Brooks, who served in the Royal Engineers (right)

The hostel is undergoing a £7 million upgrade and Philip posed for photos as he chatted to residents including Philip Brooks, who served in the Royal Engineers (right)

Despite the concerns about the Duke's health, he has not cancelled any further engagements and has not attended hospital.

When he arrived at the hostel in London last week, Philip smiled broadly as he was greeted first by Ken Olisa, Lord-Lieutenant for Greater London, and then retired Wing Commander Dr Hugh Milroy, chief executive of Veterans Aid.

The hostel is undergoing a £7 million upgrade and Philip posed for a photo on the steps of a former rectory which is the first phase of the project to be completed and now provides flat-share accommodation for 12 veterans.

Comments (21)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now