96歲的菲利普親王要進行“臀部”手術

For the most part, Prince Philip takes bouts of ill-health in his stride. But confronted by the possibility that an untreated hip complaint could prevent him participating in his beloved sport of carriage driving, he has accepted medical advice.

菲利普親王將治療臀部微恙問題，但是醫生可能會建議他不要參加心愛的架馬車比賽。

The aim of today’s procedure is, however, twofold. It means, hopefully, he will be fit enough not just to take part in the Royal Windsor Horse show on May 9, but, crucially, to be an active participant at Prince Harry’s wedding ten days later.

治療被分爲兩個階段。菲利普王子有望參加5月9日溫莎城堡的賽馬車，更重要的是，也能出席十天後哈里王子的婚禮。

Both are key fixtures in Philip’s diary. Indeed, Harry favoured Windsor as his wedding venue because it would be easier for his grandfather to attend.

這兩項活動都是菲利普王子的固定日程，哈里選擇在溫莎城堡結婚也是因爲對祖父來說到溫莎城堡更容易些。

Although he’s 96 and therefore the prospect of a general anaesthetic cannot be taken lightly, Philip remains supremely fit and remarkably strong for his age.

儘管已是96歲高齡，全麻實施起來也很艱難，菲利普親王還是一如既往的健朗。

He still walks quickly with one hand behind his back, as of old. And he still cuts a dapper figure, with tailored suits and well-polished shoes; this helps give the impression of a much younger man.

步入老年，菲利普親王依舊健步如飛，一隻手背在身後，衣服剪裁得體，鞋子發亮，利落精幹，看起來年輕不少。

Someone seeing him for the first time would not believe he’s a nonagenarian. The Queen Mother underwent two hip operation in her nineties. She had a hip replacement at 95 and then, at 97, had surgery after fracturing her left hip. She recovered to continue carrying out public engagements.

第一次見他的人絕不會相信菲利普親王已經九十多歲了。女王的母親九十歲的時候做過兩次臀部手術，95歲做過髖關節置換，97歲左髖關節骨折後做了手術。康復後也一直出席着公共活動。

The Duke of Edinburgh, of course, has officially retired from royal duties but he still makes a point of showing up at events, often unexpectedly, but to the delight of organisers.

菲利普親王也已退休，但仍會在各大活動中意外露面，讓主辦方驚喜不已。

He had hoped to join the Queen for the Maundy service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor last Thursday, and his name was in the order of service. He was also absent from the royals’ traditional Easter Sunday church service. The previous week he pulled out of a ceremony to hand over his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards to Prince Andrew.

上週四，菲利普本想和女王一起參加溫莎城堡聖喬治教堂的濯足節，也在名單中，卻遺憾缺席。復活節星期日教堂活動也是如此。前一週他參加了職位交接儀式，將自己近衛步兵第一團團長的職位交給了安德魯王子。

The fact is that he has endured severe back pain for more than 20 years. It is the reason why, at times, he has appeared irritable in public. But the hip problem has become acute.

其實二十多年來菲利普一直忍受着巨大的背痛，這也是爲什麼有時候他在公衆面前喜怒無常，但是眼下臀部的問題較爲突出。

A close friend of the duke describes his condition as ‘the bones in his hip grinding together.’

有親友說菲利普“臀骨都磨碎了”

Surgery, says the friend, does not intimidate him. ‘For him, it is a simple choice; if without the procedure it means he cannot continue carriage-driving, then it is worth undergoing an operation. He will only stop when he no longer enjoys it, not because he can’t do it. Above all he wants to remain active.’

但是菲利普對手術並不恐懼。“對他來說選擇很簡單，要是不做手術就沒法參加駕馬車比賽。這場比賽值得手術。駕馬車是菲利普所愛，除非能力有限，不然他不會放棄。他還是想參加比賽的。”

When Philip retired from public duties last year, it was not for medical reasons – he simply wanted to enjoy more of his leisure time.

去年菲利普退休卻不是因爲身體狀況，只是想好好享受閒暇時光。

Just a few days after Buckingham Palace announced the decision, he was carriage-driving at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

這不，退休消息公佈沒幾天，菲利普就參加了溫莎王室駕馬車比賽。

He turned 96 last June, and a week later helped the Queen celebrate her official 91st birthday at the annual Trooping the Colour parade. On June 20, he spent the day at Royal Ascot, where temperatures were so hot that the dress code in the Royal Enclosure was relaxed for the first time.

去年6月，菲利普迎來了96歲生日，一週後又和女王在軍旗敬禮分列式上慶祝了她91歲的生日。6月20日，參加了阿斯科特賽馬會，天氣炎熱，菲利普也是第一次在皇家禁地穿着不那麼謹嚴。

Royal life has always agreed with him and most of his ailments and injuries have been sports-related.

菲利普一直很習慣王室生活，身體的各種小毛病也都是由運動引起的。

Philip suffers from arthritis in his right wrist, and broke a bone in his ankle playing polo. His arthritic wrist forced him to give up polo in 1971 – when he was 50 – after which he decided to take up carriage-driving.

右手腕患有關節炎，打馬球時膝蓋骨折。右手腕關節炎在1971年菲利普50歲的時候迫使他放棄了馬球這項運動，隨後菲利普又開始駕馬車。

The duke is also an advocate of healthy eating combined with exercise. He once said he more or less followed the Atkins diet and he drinks only moderately.

菲利普也是健康飲食和鍛鍊的提倡者，他說自己時不時地在遵循阿特斯金減肥法，飲酒適度。

He takes the stairs – two at a time - rather than lifts, and still fits into the uniform he wore on his wedding day.

每天上樓都是兩階臺階一跨，不坐電梯，至今仍能穿上婚禮時的禮服。

But it is Harry’s wedding day in seven weeks’ time that has recently been on his mind. Says the friend: ‘With convalescence, he hopes to be there.’

7周後哈里的婚禮是菲利普近來的心頭大事。朋友說：“他希望康復期後能參加婚禮。”