The Duke of Edinburgh may have been more likely to develop his bladder infection because of the conditions during Sunday's Diamond Jubilee Pageant, experts have said.

But it is not something to worry about too much, two consultants said today.

Philip showed his determination to spend the day by the Queen's side, standing next to her on the deck of the Royal Barge for much of the pageant, which lasted more than three hours.

But the cold and wet conditions, not drinking enough and infrequent visits to the toilet while on the Spirit of Chartwell may have contributed to him developing the infection, Dr Frank Chinegwundoh said.

Bladder infections are caused by bugs already in the system, but the conditions on Sunday may have caused it to develop, the consultant urological surgeon said.

Dr Chinegwundoh, from Barts Health NHS Trust in London, said the most likely cause of the infection was something to do with Philip's prostate gland, but conditions on Sunday would not have helped.

"I don't think it helps, because he would not have had a lot of fluids nor would he have been peeing to wash out any bugs and all the wet and cold might have reduced his immune system so I think the combination of everything may have led to this.

"Urine infections are generally caused by bugs that are in your own body naturally, so it would not have been that he picked it up from somewhere during the pageant.

"It's not that it would have caused it but, because of the circumstances he was in, it's possible that he would not have been able to get rid of it. It might have predisposed him to it."

He said bladder infections are often caused because of issues with the prostate gland, and when infections are not properly "flushed out", creating a "stagnant pond" effect.

Dr Chinegwundoh said the best treatment is rest, fluids and antibiotics and the Duke would probably have had an ultrasound as well.

"The first thing would be to make sure he is hydrated and give him antibiotics, probably intravenously at first, and if there's some prostate problems then that can be dealt with."

He said bladder infections are usually easily treated, adding: "If you treat it early with the appropriate antibiotics then it should clear up within days so I wouldn't have thought it a great cause of concern.

"If you left it long enough and didn't treat with antibiotics then the infection could spread from the urinary system into the blood and that is potentially fatal.

"But it seems like the signs were recognised and he was treated fairly swiftly."

Harley Street doctor Malcolm Vandeburg agreed, saying: "Given his health and the care he will undoubtedly get, I wouldn't be unduly concerned."

A specialist in general medicine and male health problems, Dr Vandeburg also said the Duke may not have made enough visits to the toilet while on board the royal barge.

He also cited stress, potentially brought on by the high-profile Jubilee celebrations, saying this could have led the infection to emerge when it did.

Dr Vandeburg said if Philip contracted the infection prior to the boating extravaganza, he might have been in considerable pain as he waved to crowds.

"To think he could have had that and stood up all day makes it all the more remarkable, on the assumption it didn't just start the moment they announced it," he said.

He added: "If a man gets a bladder infection, it's usually that something else is going wrong as well.

"In a man of around 90, the thing that you would think of is some form of bladder outlet obstruction which would, at the top of the list, be some form of obstruction around the prostate.

"This would cause urine to remain in the bladder, causing an infection."