Virus victim Charles’s message of hope
PRINCE Charles delivered a message of hope to the nation yesterday – while admitting his own frustration that he can’t go out after catching coronavirus.
The heir to the throne emerged from seven days of quarantine on Monday but still has to stay at home and practise social distancing like all over 70 year olds.
His wife Camilla, 72, who tested negative for the disease, is in a 14-day isolation, until tomorrow, after coming into contact with him while he was infected.
Yesterday in his speech Charles, 71, heaped praise on NHS staff and volunteers for their efforts during the national emergency.
He also described shop workers striving to keep supermarket shelves stocked as another “emergency service” and urged Britons to look forward to better times.
Faith
Speaking from Birkhall, his home on the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, he said: “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.”
The Prince made his speech – his first appearance since becoming ill – on behalf of the charity Age UK, of which he is a patron.
He admitted that isolation was taking a toll and he found it frustrating he couldn’t see family and friends. The last time he met with the Queen was on March 12.
Charles said: “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. 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.
“At such an unprecedented and anxious time, my wife and I are thinking particularly of all those who have lost their loved ones and of those having to endure sickness, isolation and loneliness. As patron of Age UK, and my wife the patron of The Silver Line, our hearts go out to all those older people throughout this country who are now experiencing great difficulty.”
He gave his message in the late Queen Mother’s Jacobean home, before book shelves that included a tome by her favourite jockey and crime writer Dick Francis. All but five working members of the Royal Family are prevented from going out because they are over 70.