Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies has told of the moment she saw the Duke of Edinburgh leave for hospital after a Buckingham Palace garden party.
Prince Philip is expected to spend two weeks in hospital for an exploratory operation on his abdomen.
He had enjoyed an afternoon at the Palace with a string of stars including Sharron, 50, a former Gloucestershire resident.
Sharron has told how the Prince had looked fine, sharing jokes with guests. But she noticed him dashing off in a car as she was leaving the party at the same time.
Speaking about the party, she said: "I've been for a walk around the gardens and seen so many Olympians and Paralympians - I keep bumping into people I know.
"I came to a garden party when I was very young, about 19, but I don't remember much of it. I think it was wasted on me then so it's lovely to have the chance to come again."
Sharron won a silver medal in the 400metre individual medley at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow and two gold medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. She now works as a television presenter.
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