In a statement issued by officials in London, it was revealed that Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, has been infected by the coronavirus.
Prince Charles, the son of Queen Elizabeth II and former husband of the late Princess Diana, has been in self-isolation on Balmoral estate in Scotland after British doctors confirmed that he tested positive for the deadly virus.
Thus far, almost half of million people have contracted the coronavirus worldwide and 17,000 have died. The grandfather, who the first in line to the British throne, was tested after he displayed mild symptoms.
According to officials, it is not known how or when the Prince of Wales caught the disease. However, many media outlets have pointed out that he was in contact with members of Monaco’s royal family, including Prince Albert, the country’s head of state, who has the coronavirus.
Prince Charles is said to be in good health, according to a statement issued by Clarence House. Buckingham Palace also explained that Prince Charles’s wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, has been tested and does not have the coronavirus.
It has been confirmed that the 93-year-old Queen is doing well and has left London out of precaution.
The Queen last saw Prince Charles briefly after an investiture ceremony for public awards at Buckingham Palace in London that took place on March 12.
The statement from Clarence House reads: “The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus. He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual. The Duchess of Cornwall has also been tested but does not have the virus. 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.”
It goes on to say: “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.”
Prince Charles, who is 71 years old, is the eldest child of the Queen and her 98-year-old husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The father of two is also the first member of the British royal family to contract the disease.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a lockdown in the United Kingdom.
