Good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. The duke of edinburgh has returned to sandringham in time for christmas after leaving hospital in london. Prince phillip, whos 98, spent four nights in the king edward vii hospital on the advice of his doctor. In her Christmas Day message the queen will describe 2019 as a bumpy year. Heres our royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell. Afterfour nights in the king edward vii hospital, the duke emerged this morning and walked slowly but without assistance to the waiting vehicle. There has been no information about the reason for his stay at the hospital. In the past he has been treated there for bladder and chest infections. Whatever the nature of this latest episode, the duke has satisfied his doctors that he is well enough to return home. The helicopter from Buckingham Palace to the sandringham estate where the royal family are gathering for christmas. In her christmas broadcast, the queen will talk about a past year which has felt quite bumpy. She