‘The reality of this virus is only just unfolding before our very eyes’ CHLOE MIDDLETON’S AUNT EMILY MISTRY
● Aunt’s warning after 21-yearold with no underlying health conditions feared to be victim
● Scottish diplomat, 37, dies in Hungary after contracting coronavirus
● Prince Charles selfisolating at Birkhall as home tests rolled out
Prince Charles has become the highest-profile coronavirus case in the country, after Clarence House said he had tested positive for the virus.
The Duke of Rothesay, 71, is displaying “mild symptoms” of the Covid-19 illness but is in good health and spirits as he self-isolates at Birkhall on Royal Deeside, a spokesman said.
A source added “medical advice is that it is unlikely to escalate into a more serious case”.
The Duchess of Rothesay, 72, who is also at Birkhall, in Aberdeenshire, has tested negative for the virus, so is separating herself from the prince.
The couple were tested by the NHS in Aberdeenshire on Monday, but SNP MSP politician Joan Mcalpine raised questions about the procedures, citing a relative with an underlying health condition who was refused a test.
Charles’ office at Clarence House said the prince and duchess were tested on the NHS as “they met the criteria required for testing”.
Charles fell ill over the weekend and a source said his doctor’s most conservative estimate was that he was contagious on 13 March 13.
Charles last saw the Queen the day before this date, at a private meeting at Buckingham Palace which was not attended by the Duke of Edinburgh, who at the time was thought to be at Sandringham.
Buckingham Palace said the Queen, 93, who is staying at Windsor Castle with Philip, 98, remains in good health and is following all appropriate advice.
It is not known when Charles was last in contact with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
In a statement, Clarence House said: “The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus.
“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.”
Ms Mcalpine, who wished Charles a speedy recovery, tweeted: “Given that his symptoms are said to be mild, like many I wonder how he was tested when many NHS and social care workers cannot get tested. My nephew, who has serious asthma and a chest infection, was recently refused a test.”
The NHS Scotland website says people will only generally be tested for Covid-19 if they “have a serious illness that requires admission to hospital”. Charles and Camilla are both over 70, the age group told to take social distancing particularly seriously.
The prince has spoken to both his sons –William, in Norfolk with Kate and their young children, and the Duke of Sussex, who is in Canada with the duchess and their son Archie. He has also been in touch with the Queen.
Prince Albert of Monaco, who tested positive for the virus last week, sat opposite Charles for more than half an hour during a roundtable discussion event held by the charity Wateraid on 10 March in central London.
At the time Charles was not shaking hands to avoid potentially spreading the virus, but it is not known if he shook hands with Prince Albert.