Back to business! Prince Charles reveals he lost his sense of taste and smell when he had coronavirus as he joins the Duchess of Cornwall at a hospital - while Prince William visits King's Lynn Ambulance Station
- Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William returned to work
- Charles and Camilla visited the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital this afternoon
- Charles revealed he lost his sense of taste and smell due to coronavirus
- Prince William, 37, paid a visit to King's Lynn Ambulance Station in Norfolk
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Prince William, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were seen out in public for the first time in months today as they returned to royal duties after lockdown.
Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, who were in isolation at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, made an unannounced visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital this afternoon, where they observed strict social distancing while speaking to frontline workers.
During a conversation with one healthcare worker, Charles revealed he lost his sense of taste and smell while suffering from coronavirus in March and said it hasn't yet fully returned.
Just hours later Prince William, 37, paid a visit to King's Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Norfolk, close to his and Kate Middleton's country home of Anmer Hall, where they have been in lockdown with their three children.
The visits mark the first public outings for any member of the royal family since the start of lockdown on 23 March.
Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, who were in isolation at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, made an unannounced visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital this afternoon, where they observed strict social distancing while speaking to frontline workers (pictured)
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall appeared in excellent spirits during the visit (left). Right, the prince raised his hands in a namaste gesture as a non-contact greeting
Just hours later Prince William, 37, paid a visit to King's Lynn Ambulance Station at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which is close to his and Kate Middleton's country home of Anmer Hall, on the Queen's Sandringham estate, to thank staff for their dedication
During the hospital visit, Prince Charles spoke to Jeff Mills, 47, a healthcare assistant from Cheltenham General Hospital, about contracting Covid-19 in March, after developing mild symptoms.
Mr Mills said: 'He [Prince Charles] did speak of his personal experience, so first-hand experience for him. He also spoke about his loss of smell and taste and, sort of, still felt he's still got it now.'
Charles and Camilla were careful to maintain social distancing during the visit today and remained on a path while workers - including nurses, cleaners, consultants and care workers - were positioned at 2m intervals on the grassy bank along one side.
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Prince Charles, dressed in a grey suit, waved to workers and put his hands together in the Thai 'wai'. He used the gesture in his final royal engagements before the start of lockdown.
Camilla, who wore a long-sleeved blue dress in a light summer fabric, appeared in equally good spirits and spent time speaking to the healthcare workers.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall maintained social distancing as they spoke to key workers outside the hospital this afternoon (pictured)
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall took part in a socially distant TV interview
Hospital workers stood two metres apart on the grassy bank (pictured) while the royals walked along the path outside the hospital
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, who are used to being greeted by tightly packed crowds, instead spoke to hospital workers at a distance
The Duchess of Cornwall appeared animated as she spoke to staff on her first public engagement since the start of lockdown
Camilla talked about a recent family reunion, seeing her grandchildren for the first time since lockdown, saying: 'First time last weekend. Not hug them, but see them - a great treat.'
Asked if the country's appreciation of the NHS has changed for good, the duchess replied: 'I think it has, you can tell by all the people coming out every week to clap - they've done the most remarkable things.
'The way they've looked after people, the way they've sort of kept control of the whole thing, you know, it's a question of not panicking and getting on with it and I think they are Britain at its best.'
In a lighter moment, Prince Charles quipped about the arrangement: 'I was just thinking we should tell them to fall out, shortly,' while his wife joked: 'I feel they're going to take a salute or something.'
Prince Charles appeared in excellent spirits during the engagement at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital today
The Duchess of Cornwall is shown a knitted tribute to NHS staff by Chief Executive Officer, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation, Deborah Lee
The couple were careful to maintain social distancing on their visit to the hospital today
Prince Charles was in a jovial mood as he spoke to hospital staff in the grounds today
After meeting the staff, Charles said: 'It's been a marvellous opportunity just to have a chance of seeing people I know have been doing so much - literally on the front line.
'And having to endure an awful lot of stress and strain in their wonderful way - how they do it I don't know. But delivering everything in the most effective way.
'And the great thing they were all saying is it's brought different departments together in a way that hadn't always happened before, so there's been a great deal of marvellous co-operation I think.'
With lockdown restrictions being eased, the royal family have chosen this week to take a step towards a return to normality - with a series of face-to-face public engagements.
The Duchess of Cornwall chats with NHS staff and front line key workers who who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic
Prince Charles looked engaged as he heard more about the work carried out at the hospital
On Thursday, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to the UK.
The Princess Royal was also due to visit the nearby Duke of Gloucester Barracks to see military personnel being tested for Covid-19 before heading overseas.
On Saturday the Queen attended a mini Trooping the Colour ceremony at Windsor Castle - the first time any member of the royal family had attended a national event since lockdown.
Charles and Camilla have spent almost three months at Birkhall in Scotland, where the prince recovered from Covid-19 after contracting the virus in March, suffering with mild symptoms.
The South West has seen the lowest number of Covid-19 cases of all the English regions, but within the South West, Gloucestershire has had the highest number of cases, a Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said.
At one point the royal used a handkerchief to wipe something away from his face, pictured
Prince Charles gave a huge goodbye wave to staff members following the visit
Later the Duke of Cambridge, 37, thanked staff from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) for their work and dedication responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.
During the visit he took the opportunity to ask about their experiences over the past few months.
He heard about the work that has been carried out to ensure that the EEAST has been able to continue to provide its services throughout the pandemic, including working collaboratively across blue lights services, and the personal measures which staff have taken to support these efforts.
The crew also spoke to the Duke about the support they have received from members of the public, local businesses and volunteering networks.
EEAST provides round-the-clock accident and emergency services to 6.2 million people living in the east of England.
The service operates over 130 sites and works closely with other blue lights partners, including air ambulances, to ensure that every patient receives the best possible care.
During the visit, Prince William also heard about the impact that the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the mental health and wellbeing of first responders.
