Covid: Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall receive coronavirus vaccines

Charles and Camilla have received their first dose. Credit: PA

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have had their first Covid-19 vaccinations, Clarence House has said. Heir to the throne Charles, 72, and Camilla, 73, are, as over 70-year-olds, in the fourth priority group for the rollout of the jabs. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set a target for all people in the top four groups to be offered a coronavirus vaccine by February 15.

The confirmation comes after the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were given the injection last month, announced in an unusual move by Buckingham Palace which rarely comments on the private health matters of the 94-year-old head of state and her consort, 99. A Clarence House spokesman said: “The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have had their first Covid-19 vaccinations.” No further details have been released.

It is not known whether Charles and Camilla were vaccinated together, or which version of the vaccine they were given. Charles had previously said he would “absolutely” get the Covid-19 vaccine when it was offered to him. The heir to the throne and his eldest son, the Duke of Cambridge, both contracted coronavirus during the first wave of the pandemic. Charles was described as having mild symptoms and lost his sense of taste and smell for a period, while it was reported William was hit “pretty hard” by the virus.

It is not known which vaccine the Queen and Philip were given, but it is likely they will receive their second dose up to 12 weeks later. It is understood the Queen decided the information about her and her husband should be made public to prevent inaccuracies and further speculation.