Coronavirus: Britain’s Prince Charles has it, Camilla doesn’t, and Queen Elizabeth is ‘in good health’
- The heir to the British throne, 71, is self-isolating and ‘working from home’ with his wife Camilla in Balmoral, Scotland
- Charles had met Prince Albert of Monaco – who also has the virus – at a charity function in London on March 10
The Prince of Wales, 71, has only mild symptoms but is otherwise in good health and has been working from home, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
His wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, has also been tested but does not have the virus. She is with her husband but staying in another room.
“In accordance with government and medical advice, the prince and the duchess are now self-isolating at home in Scotland. The tests were carried out by the NHS in Aberdeenshire where they met the criteria required for testing,” said the palace.
“It is not possible to ascertain from whom the prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks.”
Buckingham Palace said the queen remained in “good health”.
UK ‘lockdown’ confusion as nation braces for wave of Covid-19 patients
Charles came into close contact with Prince Albert of Monaco at an event by the charity WaterAid in London on March 10. Albert has tested positive for the virus.
Charles last saw his mother Queen Elizabeth on March 12. The monarch, 93, left Buckingham Palace last Thursday for Windsor Castle, where she normally resides at Easter. The queen’s husband, Prince Philip, 98, is also at Windsor.
Charles has been careful not to shake hands on his royal visits recently, preferring instead to make the Hindu “namaste” sign.
The palace did not say whether extensive contact tracing was being carried out on all of the dozens of people Charles had met in recent weeks.
The evening after meeting Prince Albert, 62, Charles hosted the Prince’s Trust Annual awards for young people who have excelled in public service, attended by several hundred people.
Other people to have met Charles recently include Mark Carney, the outgoing governor of the Bank of England. Charles cancelled all royal engagements from March 15. Albert announced he had contracted the virus on March 17.
The news of Charles’ illness prompted questions about inequality in the UK on social media. Many people asked how he could have been tested when front line medical staff were still not being given that opportunity.
Charles also faced criticism for ignoring government advice to stay put and travelling from London to Balmoral. The castle is serviced by dozens of local staff who could now have come into contact with the virus.
The government has advised people with second homes to stay in their primary residence after recent complaints from people in Cornwall and the Scottish Highlands, where Balmoral is situated, that they were being put at risk by a sudden influx of part-time residents. Both areas are popular with Londoners buying second homes.
“As with everyone who has Covid-19, wishing Prince Charles a speedy recovery,” wrote the Scottish sports commentator Derek Rae. “But it’s perfectly legitimate to question why he and advisers thought it wasn’t reckless to decamp to Balmoral this past weekend, at a time when Scottish government advice or common sense said otherwise.”
Charles’ son, Prince William, the second-in-line to the throne, has been playing a more hands-on role since the virus began to spread.
The news of Charles’ illness came as it was announced the Houses of Parliament would go into recess on Wednesday evening due to the virus.
Health minister Nadine Dorries has already announced she has the virus and there are particular concerns for the House of Lords, the UK’s un-elected upper parliamentary chamber, where the average age is 70.
Some MPs have criticised the move, calling for virtual ways to be found for parliament to meet given the nature of the emergency legislation being passed.
‘When parliament goes into recess, our ability to question ministers, in person or via written questions, is diminished,” tweeted Labour’s Wes Streeting. “I am very uncomfortable that we’re going into recess before the support package for self-employment is announced.”
Purchase the China AI Report 2020 brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020.
