Prince William: Which members of the royal family have had coronavirus?

After it was reported the Duke of Cambridge ‘tested positive in April’, we take a look at royals who have been impacted

Like the rest of the world, the royal family have not entirely escaped the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Although they have palaces to lock down in, they have not been untouched by the virus.

In November, it was revealed that Prince William was on the list of royal family members to “test positive for coronavirus”. According to reports he contracted the disease in April, shortly after his father, Prince Charles. 

William’s diagnosis was not revealed at the time, supposedly over fears it would alarm the British public that both the heir apparent and the second-in-line were unwell. 

We take a look at which royals have tested positive or have been affected by Covid-19 in 2020.

Prince William

According to the BBC, the Duke of Cambridge tested positive in April days after Prince Charles had tested positive for the disease, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed he’d contracted coronavirus.

The heir to the throne didn’t tell the British public at the time, as he didn’t want to cause alarm, according to reports he said “there were important things going on and I didn't want to worry anyone”.

Palace sources reportedly  said he “struggled to breathe” and “was hit pretty hard by the virus” although Kensington Palace has not publicly confirmed the report.

The Duke isolated in Anmer Hall, part of the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. His wife Kate Middleton, and their three children George, Louis and Charlotte, didn’t test positive.

Prince William has recovered and subsequently been seen on numerous face-to-face royal engagements, some with the Duchess of Cambridge, most recently the Pride of Britain awards.

Prince Charles

The Duke of Wales contracted coronavirus in March, but only had mild symptoms. He isolated for a week in Scotland. His wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, tested negative for coronavirus. 

After recovering from the disease, Prince Charles said he’d "got away with it quite lightly”. The Prince put out a heartfelt video message from his Balmoral estate.

He said: “My wife and I are thinking particularly of all those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances and of those having to endure sickness and isolation and loneliness”.

Charles Spencer

In September, the late Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, revealed he had had Covid-19 while finishing off his new book The White Ship.  He later explained in an interview how he soldiered on. 

“There were moments where I thought I was actually never going to finish this book because I wasn't feeling very well – but you've got to put on the big boy pants and get on with it, really,’ he said during an interview with Rebecca Harding, chairman of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex

At the beginning of October, the Countess of Wessex had to isolate after the palace confirmed she was in contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus. 

An official statement read: "She is not experiencing any symptoms, but is following all relevant government guidelines and is self-isolating at home." 

The only other people she’d been in contact with were her husband Prince Edward, and her children, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, but had not recently seen any other members of the royal family.

Royal family engagements

During 2020, the royals have had to cancel or postpone many of their duties “to ensure public safety”, says the official royal website, “but they are still working to applaud the work of charity and healthcare workers across the UK”.

The royals’ recent social media messages have let the public into their homes and have felt more informal. 

The official Twitter feeds of senior members of The Firm are filled with charity endorsements, positive messages to the UK public, and support for healthcare professionals and volunteers across the Commonwealth and around the world.  

Princess Beatrice and her fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi cancelled their wedding in May, due to coronavirus, but the pair tied the knot in Windsor in July, during a small ceremony attended with immediate family only, plus the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. 

The the traditional Trooping the Colour parade for the Queen’s birthday in June was also cancelled, due to the pandemic. Instead, the Welsh Guard performed at Windsor.