Queen's royal footman, who tested positive for coronavirus, was in frequent contact with her
A royal footman who worked in close contact with the Queen has tested positive for coronavirus. The man has been sent into self-isolation at home but has raised concerns over whether he had come into contact with the Queen while he was infected.
The Buckingham Palace aides have confirmed that the 93-year-old Queen is in good health as she remains quarantined with her husband Prince Philip, 98, at Windsor Castle. The worker's role was to give the Queen food and drink after getting promoted around six months ago. He was also responsible for walking her dogs Vulcan and Candy. He also had to greet guests and open letters.
"Everyone is terrified, not just for themselves but also for the Queen and the Duke. If everyone around them hasn't been tested yet they should be and I'm sure they will be. There is a palpable sense of fear in the air at the moment," The Sun quoted a source as saying.
"The footman would come and collect the dogs and see the Queen on a daily basis performing normal duties. It's terrifying to think how close they were," the source revealed. Around a dozen Buckingham Palace officials were tested negative for the virus.
One of the staff members tested positive for the virus before the Queen left for Windsor Castle. The Queen's son Prince Charles, 71, also tested positive for the disease on Tuesday, March 24. He had last met with the Queen on March 12.
According to his doctor, he would have been contagious from March 13 at the earliest based on when he started to develop systems. Prince Charles's wife, Camilla Parker, the Duchess of Cornwall, tested negative for coronavirus but has been isolated from her husband.
The Buckingham Palace has not yet revealed whether the Queen has been tested for coronavirus and insisted that she is well. They also released a picture of the Queen during her weekly audience with the PM, which she took via a phone call from Windsor Castle.
Her Majesty was seen sporting a blue blouse and cardigan while surrounded by china corgis and racing trophies as she spoke on a 1970s style white telephone. A Palace spokesman had shared, "Her Majesty The Queen remains in good health. The Queen last saw the Prince of Wales briefly on the morning of March 12 and is following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare."
Charles had started to feel unwell while he was at his Highgrove Estate in Gloucestershire before flying to Scotland on Sunday, March 22. He was then tested by NHS on Monday with the tests being sent back late Tuesday evening.
Sources revealed that Prince Charles had mild symptoms and had not taken to his bed. He has been spending the last couple of days working and is expected to make a full recovery. "The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus," a statement by Clarence House read.
"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."
"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," the statement revealed.