Duke makes surprise video call to shielding mother and young son
THE DUKE of Cambridge has made a surprise video call to a woman and her young son who have been shielding for the last three months.
William spoke with Leanne and five-year-old Kaydyn, who has cystic fibrosis, and the footage featured on the BBC’s The One Show last night.
It forms part of a film focusing on extremely vulnerable people being advised to remain at home as much as possible, and the challenges they are facing.
Leanne was shown covering her mouth with her hands in shock as the Duke called from his home in Norfolk.
From the start of June, more than 2.2 million extremely vulnerable people shielding from coronavirus were allowed to leave their homes as part of Government measures to ease the lockdown.
Since the advice changed, Leanne and Kaydyn, from Corby, Northamptonshire, have been outside twice, both on country walks.
The BBC said: “Initially Kaydyn was frustrated about being forced to stay inside – now he is very nervous about leaving the house.”
The film will also look at Shelby
Lynch, a 21-year-old from Leeds, who has spinal muscular atrophy type 2 and is on a ventilator 24 hours a day.
Her condition means she remains extremely vulnerable to Covid-19.
The film describes how Shelby has been finding it difficult at home with her father, sister and stepmother, and being apart from her boyfriend, and says she dreams of the day she can see someone without social distancing.
It follows the moment she finally leaves her home for a socially distanced meeting with her boyfriend for the first time in many weeks. “He had been feeling a little down so it was nice to see his face light up,” she said.
This weekend, the Duke joined England rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson and other sporting greats to discuss the issue of mental health across UK sport.