The Queen has been to see the Duke of Edinburgh in hospital as he recovers from a bladder infection which forced him to miss some of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

She arrived at the King Edward VII Hospital in central London hours after Buckingham Palace said the Duke's condition had "improved considerably".

The Duke of York arrived at the hospital soon afterwards.

The Queen left the hospital after spending approximately 50 minutes with her husband. She smiled broadly as she came out as a small crowd of well-wishers, who had gathered while she inside, cheered.

The Queen's husband, who is 91 on Sunday, was admitted to hospital on Monday, the day after he spent several hours braving the elements for the Thames River Pageant.

The palace statement, released at lunchtime, said: "The treatment of his infection continues with antibiotics. He is likely to remain in hospital over the next few days. He is in good spirits."

The illness forced the Duke to miss several key events of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, including a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral and the concert outside Buckingham Palace.

He was visited n Tuesday by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, accompanied by their children, Louise and James.

Edward said his father was "feeling a lot better" and had been watching events unfold on television.

Asked how the Queen was coping without her husband, Edward added: "She's bearing up but missing him, obviously."