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Prince William and Kate slammed for ignoring social isolation and meeting health workers: 'Stay home'

Commentators were quick to slam Prince William about not following his own sage advice to stay home and avoid "non-essential contact" while others were proud of them representing Queen and country
UPDATED MAR 21, 2020
Catherine and Prince William (Getty Images)
Catherine and Prince William (Getty Images)

Fans of the royal couple were upset by Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton's decision to ignore calls for social distancing. The royal couple paid a surprise visit to coronavirus health workers in London on March 19. They were photographed in Croydon, in south-west London listening to workers telling them that the UK’s emergency service 999 had just experienced the busiest three days in its history, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Posting on Instagram, Prince William praised health workers' efforts as they work “around the clock to provide advice to those that need it most”. He added in his post: “Catherine and I were proud to visit staff working at NHS 111, to pass on our personal thanks, along with those of my grandmother and father, to staff working around the clock to provide care and advice to those that need it most."

It continued: “The last few weeks and more recent days have been understandably concerning with the continuing spread of coronavirus... All of us have a part to play if we’re going to protect the most vulnerable. That means acting on the latest expert advice, staying home if we or those we live with have symptoms, and avoiding non-essential contact to help reduce the spread of the virus.”

However, commentators were quick to slam Prince William about not following his own sage advice. “Can we talk about how we’re supposed to be practicing social distancing and they are like two feet away from people,” one person wrote. Another added: “Guys, I love you, but stop going around. Stay home".

“Guys stay home!!!! Covid is no joke!,” one follower asserted, while one simply wrote: “No masks??? Really???” However, one fan shrewdly noted: "There are those that will complain saying you shouldn’t be out and then those that will say you’re cooped up in a palace hiding. You can’t win, I commend you. Greeting those who are at the forefront and thanking them for all the hours they put in. Brilliant work."

Others were more positive, commending the royal couple for their effort to encourage and inspire frontline health workers. "Heartening that you are visiting our amazing NHS staff at this time!," one follower gushed, while another said that the health workers must have been "grateful" for their visit. "It will have been a boost for them knowing we are all in this together," the post added. Another praised them for being "on the front line" and "representing Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family" to show support to health workers. 

Buckingham Palace had earlier announced: "In consultation with the Medical Household and Government, a number of public events with large numbers of people due to have been attended by The Queen, and other senior members of the Royal Family, in the coming months will be canceled or postponed." More specifically, the Queen's garden parties at Buckingham Palace have already been canceled, as has the annual Maundy Service at St George’s Chapel. Last week, Prince Charles and Camilla also postponed their upcoming tour of Jordan, Cyprus, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the Queen canceled two visits around the UK amid COVID-19 concerns.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took to Instagram to share tips on how to deal with social distancing as they followed rules to self-isolate in their Vancouver home. They posted: "Yes, there is isolation and physical distancing, but there doesn’t have to be loneliness." They too were slammed for dishing out mental health advice despite not having the expertise to talk about it. 

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