Prince William makes surprise call to family who has been shielding for 3 months

The Duke of Cambridge made the call from Anmer Hall in Norfolk

(Rex Features)

The Duke of Cambridge made a surprise video call to a woman and her son who have been shielding at home for the last three months, during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

Prince William spoke to Leanne and her son Kaydyn, who has cystic fibrosis, to talk about vulnerable people being advised to stay at home and the challenges they are facing in doing so.

The father-of-three called from his home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, where he has been in lockdown with his wife, The Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

People on the government shielding list, which includes those with certain types of cancer or undergoing immuno-compromising treatments, were told to not go outside for any reason for a period of 12 weeks, starting on 23 March.

The government said these 2.2 million people should self-isolate and not go out – even for food or medicine – and should rely on other people to bring it to them.

But at the end of May, two weeks before the 12-week-deadline, Matt Hancock said people no longer needed to shield and could leave the house and meet someone from another household.

Although the rules have changed – many are continuing to largely stay at home and follow their own instincts.

Leanne and Kaydyn have been outside just twice since the rules changed – both on country walks where they could remain isolated.

The video call, Credit: BBC

During the call with Prince William, which was a surprise to Leanne, the mother explained: “Initially Kaydyn was frustrated about being forced to stay inside – now he is very nervous about leaving the house.”

The call is part of a BBC film that will be shown on Tuesday’s The One Show.

The film also looks at 21-year-old Shelby Lynch from Leeds who has spinal muscular atrophy type two and is on a ventilator 24 hours a day. Her condition means she remains extremely vulnerable to Covid-19.

It describes how Shelby has been finding it difficult at home with her father, sister and stepmother, and being apart from her boyfriend.

Shelby says she dreams of the day she can see someone without social distancing.

Prince William's father, Prince Charles, had coronavirus in March.

In an interview to mark the launch of the royal's new mental health campaign, William admitted he had been worried about the 71-year-old and his grandparents.

He said: “I have to admit at first I was quite concerned, he fits the profile of somebody, at the age he's at, which is, you know, fairly risky, and so I was a little bit worried."

The Prince of Wales has now fully recovered from Covid-19.