Philip to retire as university chancellor

The Duke of Edinburgh will step down as president or patron of more than a dozen organisations, including Edinburgh University, when he turns 90 next year.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman yesterday stressed that Prince Philip would still be involved with more than 800 organisations and would be flying to the Gulf with the Queen later this week for a five-day state visit.

However, the move is the first public acknowledgement of the duke's advancing years.

The Palace spokeswoman said: "Prince Philip will be 90 next year and he feels he should ease down on his commitments.

Among the posts Philip will quit are his chancellorships of the University of Edinburgh, held since 1952, and University of Cambridge, held since 1976.

Other roles he will relinquish include his patronage of UK Athletics, held since 1952, City and Guilds of London Institute, president since 1951, and Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, president since 1958.

The duke celebrates his 90th birthday on 10 June. He has remained lean and fit and even as an octogenarian continued to compete in demanding carriage driving competitions until retiring a few years ago.

He suffered a chest infection which laid him low in April 2008 for a number of days and in June this year had minor surgery on his left hand.