Five essential exercises that helped Prince Charles fight off the virus

IT IS the ultra-simple fitness routine favoured by Royalty: the Canadian Air Force five basic exercises, or 5BX, a full-body workout that needs no special kit and gets the heart racing.

Could it also be just the ticket to get your body fighting fit in the battle against coronavirus? It worked for Prince Charles, above, who is said to do the routine every day.

In March the 71-year-old quickly bounced back after testing positive for Covid-19 – despite his age putting him at high-risk from the disease.

Research has shown that even moderate exercise can have a positive effect on the immune system. It is also thought to speed up the recovery process, if you do get ill with something like Covid-19.

1 STRETCH

STAND with feet hip-width apart, and arms stretched above your head. Slowly bend forward, bringing your arms down until you touch the floor. Return to original position and gently lean backwards. Repeat for two minutes.

2 SIT-UPS

LIE on your back with feet apart and your arms by your side. With your knees bent, lift your head and shoulders off the ground. Lower your body back down so you are lying on the floor again. Repeat this as many times as you can in one minute.

3 BACK EXTENSIONS

LIE on your front, with your hands under your thighs, palms facing upwards. Raise your head and one leg slightly off the ground at the same time. Do the same with the other leg. Repeat as many times as you can in one minute.

4 PRESS-UPS

GET on all fours on the floor, with your palms on the ground and hands shoulder-width apart.

Lift your knees off the ground, bend your elbows and lower your body down. Then push back up again.

If you need to, keep your knees on the ground during this movement. Repeat as many times as possible for one minute.

5 SCISSOR JUMPS

FOR six minutes, run on the spot. After every 75 steps, do ten scissor jumps. To do a scissor jump, stand with your right arm and left leg extended forwards – and your left arm and right leg backwards. Jump and switch the position of your arms and legs before landing.