Prince Philip cold halts his visit to Italy

The Duke of Edinburgh has recently returned from a trip to Australia with the Queen

The Duke of Edinburgh has pulled out of travelling to Italy on Monday afternoon because he has a cold.

Prince Philip, 90, was due to attend a meeting in Assisi of an environmental organisation that brings together the world's major religions.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "We expect the Duke of Edinburgh to undertake official engagements during the rest of the week."

The Queen and duke have just returned from an 11-day tour of Australia.

The duke's next official engagement is a lunch at Westminster Abbey on Thursday.

He is also due to present a prize at Buckingham Palace on the same day as an honorary member of the British Sub-Aqua Club.

Leaders' summit

The Queen cancelled a visit to the British Museum in London due to a cold shortly before she left for Australia.

A spokesman said at the time: "Her Majesty has a long trip next week and then a busy overseas programme in Australia and will need to be fit for this."

The Australia tour included a Commonwealth leaders' summit in Perth at which the rules on royal succession were changed to allow sons and daughters equal rights.

The ban on a UK monarch being married to a Roman Catholic was also lifted.

It was the Queen's 16th visit to Australia.