Prince Philip spotted with black eye

Britain's Prince Philip was spotted with a black eye yesterday (09.01.10).

The Duke of Edinburgh sported a dark bruise under his left eye as he attended a service at the queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

According to onlookers Philip, 89, looked forlorn and "miserable" as he arrived at the chapel and, contrary to his usual upbeat manner, barely stopped to chat with the crowd of well-wishers outside.

One source said: "He looked pretty miserable and was a bit of a lone figure. It was pretty obvious he didn't want to stick around."

The queen's husband has previously sported black eyes in 2005 after slipping in the bath and after a carriage-racing accident two years ago.

A royal aide told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I don't think it's anything significant."

Meanwhile, the prince has relented to pressure from his family to celebrate his 90th birthday.

The queen has organised a thanksgiving service to mark his milestone birthday on June 10 at St George's Chapel in Windsor.

The duke - who is said to have turned down a service at St Paul's Cathedral because he is determined to keep his birthday low-key - will then have a champagne reception at Windsor Castle.