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Coronavirus: Prince William and Kate Middleton phone NHS staff in show of support for those on the frontline

Royal family has resorted to phone calls and video conferencing to conduct royal duties 

Sarah Young
Thursday 02 April 2020 08:11 BST
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The Prince of Wales shares a message on the Coronavirus pandemic

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have telephoned two UK hospitals in a show of support for NHS staff on the frontline of the coronavirus outbreak.

Prince William and Kate Middleton spoke with doctors and nurses from University Hospital Monklands in Scotland and Queen's Hospital Burton in the Midlands on Wednesday afternoon.

The Court Circular, a daily list of the official engagements conducted by the Queen and her family, recorded the events.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge this afternoon talked to staff at Queen's Hospital Burton, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, via telephone,” it read.

”Their Royal Highnesses afterwards talked to staff at University Hospital Monklands, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, via telephone.“

The royal family has resorted to phone calls and video conferencing to conduct some of their royal duties as the country continues to observe the UK lockdown which aims to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Earlier this week, the royal couple shared photos on the Kensington Royal Instagram showing them speaking over the phone to the chief executives of two mental health charities, Mind and Place 2 Be.

The post acknowledged that the current climate has been “anxious and unsettling” for everyone, before urging people to look after their mental health and support each other.

Prince William and Kate's telephone calls follow a video message delivered by the Prince of Wales regarding the coronavirus outbreak.

The heir to the throne praised the “remarkable NHS” as its staff “battle heroically to save lives” and urged people to have hope that the health crisis will come to an end.

Prince Charles, who earlier this week came out of self-isolation following his Covid-19 diagnosis, recorded the video message in support of the charity Age UK, which he represents as patron.

He said: “As a nation, we are faced by a profoundly challenging situation, which we are only too aware threatens the livelihoods, businesses and welfare of millions of our fellow citizens.

”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.“

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