Prince Charles breaks silence on his battle with coronavirus, says self-isolation was 'strange and distressing'
Prince Charles has spoken out about the novel coronavirus for the first time since he recovered from COVID-19 and called the pandemic a "strange, frustrating, and often distressing experience."
The Prince of Wales, 71, was in self-isolation at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, when the illness was confirmed last week. However, he displayed only mild symptoms and was in good health despite the illness.
He was out of self-isolation a week after the diagnosis and has now paid tribute to emergency service workers in a three-minute video he recorded as a part of his role as patron of Age UK.
In the clip, recorded by a member of his staff at his Scottish home Birkhall, he talked about the coronavirus and stressed the importance of living with hope in such "unprecedented and anxious" times.
"Having recently gone through the process of contracting this coronavirus, luckily with relatively mild symptoms, I now find myself on the other side of the illness, but still in no less a state of social distance and general isolation," he said.
"As we are all learning this is a strange, frustrating and often distressing experience when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed," he continued.
"At such an unprecedented and anxious time in all our lives, my wife and I are thinking particularly of all of those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances, and of those having to endure sickness, isolation and loneliness."
Charles also took time to praise all those putting their lives on the line in the National Health Service and urged the rest of the country to show their support.
"As patron of Age UK and my wife the patron of SilverLine, our hearts go out to all those older people throughout this country who are now experiencing great difficulty," he said.
"However, we also know that in every community up and down this land - where people of all ages are being affected by this virus - there are truly wonderful neighbors, individuals and groups of volunteers who are providing ceaseless care and attention to those most at risk and that all this network of selfless assistance is, in itself, helping to provide vital support and reassurance to the hard-pressed professional services."
He thanked the doctors, nurses and "vital ancillary staff" who were under "enormous strain" and were battling "heroically to save lives in intensive care centers and to contain, as much as possible, the spread of this virus."
Charles concluded his message by expressing gratitude to all those who had come forward to volunteer for the NHS and provide much-needed support to those on the frontline.
"It is clearly essential, therefore, that such key people are treated with special consideration when coming off their exhausting duties and trying to do their shopping, for instance, while having to contend with constant anxiety about their own families and friends," he said.
"As a nation, we are faced by a profoundly challenging situation, which we are only too aware threatens the livelihoods, businesses, and welfare of millions of our fellow citizens. None of us can say when this will end, but end it will. Until it does, let us all try and live with hope and, with faith in ourselves and each other, look forward to better times to come."