Prince Charles, 71, tests positive for coronavirus, sparks concerns other royal family members may be infected
Prince Charles has tested positive for the novel coronavirus that has infected more than 420,000 people worldwide, raising concerns that other members of the royal family may have contracted the illness as well.
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, according to the Daily Mail. Camilla, however, has not tested positive.
Charles' diagnosis comes just a fortnight after meeting Prince Albert of Monaco, who tested positive for Covid-19 nine days after he met with the 71-year-old at a WaterAid event in London.
The news was confirmed by a Clarence House spokesman, who said the Prince of Wales was in good health despite the illness.
"The Prince of Wales has tested positive for Coronavirus," the spokesman said. "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."
"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."
The spokesman, however, could not confirm where or who Charles could have contracted the disease from as he had carried out a large number of public engagements in "recent weeks."
Prince Charles' illness also comes just days after it was reported that a worker from the Buckingham Palace has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. After the worker tested positive, officials had assured citizens that they had taken the necessary steps to protect all the employees and people involved.
The worker, whose name was not revealed, was subsequently quarantined, and every member of the staff who might have come in contact with the worker was placed under self-isolation.
"We wouldn't comment on individual members of staff. In line with the appropriate guidance and our own processes, we have taken the necessary actions to protect all employees and people involved," a spokesperson for the palace said.
Charles' diagnosis is likely to change protocol within the royal family further in how the outbreak is handled.
The Queen, 93, has already postponed her visits to the Bentley Motors factory in Crewe, the Jodrell Bank Observatory and Square Kilometre Array Global Headquarters in Macclesfield, and Camden because of the pandemic.
She was also reportedly moved out of her home in Buckingham Palace along with her husband Prince Philip, 98, to Windsor Castle with plans to quarantine them at Sandringham in Norfolk.
"She is in good health but it was thought best to move her," a source had said at the time. "A lot of her staff are a bit panicky over coronavirus. The Palace hosts a constant stream of visitors including politicians and dignitaries from around the world."
"The Queen has met a lot of people there until recently. But she is weeks away from her 94th birthday and advisers believe it is best to get her out of harm's way."
The UK has over 8,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and has recently taken drastic measures, including a ban on public gatherings, in an attempt to slow the outbreak.