Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, finally left the hospital on Friday after spending eleven days there recovering from a hip operation.

The 96 year-old was seen leaving the private King Edward VII hospital around midday, and he waved from the front seat of a Land Rover Discovery as he was driven away.

“His Royal Highness would like to convey his appreciation for the messages of good wishes he has received,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement after his release.

Philip had been visited the day before by his daughter, Princess Anne, who said that her father was in “good form.” She is believed to be the only member of the British royal family who visited Philip during his time in the hospital. When asked about Philip’s recovery that same day, his wife Queen Elizabeth said that “he’s getting on very well.”

People all over the world had been praying for Philip during his time in the hospital, as he stayed there an unusually long time for the operation he received. People who have the hip surgery that he had are typically out of the hospital in two or three days, so fears mounted that there had been complications that made it necessary for him to stay there so long.

However, it seems the surgery was indeed a success, and the reason Philip stayed in the hospital so long may just have been his advanced age.

We’re so glad to see that Philip is out of the hospital and back at home again! Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he continues to recover from this surgery!