Oh brother.

New health fear for Prince Philip as he coughs through state banquet.

Just when I wasn't feeling very charitable about the Queen's visit to Turkey, I see this. (I say something even the littlest bit snarky about someone and something bad happens to make me feel like an absolute shitheel. It never freaking fails.)

A PALE and sickly-looking Prince Philip coughed his way through a ceremony at a state banquet last night. The 86-year-old Duke of Edinburgh looked short of breath and uncomfortable while meeting 300 guests at an official dinner in the Turkish capital, Ankara. The coughing fit prompted new fears for his health, just a month after he spent three nights in hospital with a chest infection.

One shocked onlooker said: “He looks dreadful – as if he’s gasping for breath.”

Frail Philip, who has accompanied the Queen on all of her overseas tours since 1952, coughed repeatedly before regaining his composure. He seemed under strain again during speeches at the banquet hosted by Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his wife Hayrunnisa.

In spite of his pallor, a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman insisted there was nothing wrong with Philip.

Let's hope so.
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