Queen was in direct contact with Prince Charles who has tested positive for Covid

ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship on what we know so far, who Charles had been in contact with and his observations of the Queen in her last public appearance


The Queen met with Prince Charles this week, who has since tested positive for Covid, but the monarch is not displaying any symptoms, a Palace source has said.

The 95-year-old met recently with her son and heir to the throne Charles, but the source declined to confirm whether or not the Queen had tested negative.

The situation will continue to be monitored, but a running commentary would not be provided on the monarch’s health, the source said.

The Queen was out and about on public duties on Saturday, the eve of her Platinum Jubilee, meeting charity workers at Sandringham House.

Four days ago, the nation’s longest reigning monarch reached 70 years on the throne.

Charles is now self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 for a second time.

A statement from Clarence House said the Prince of Wales is “deeply disappointed” he cannot attend scheduled events in Winchester on Thursday.

He had been due to unveil a statue of Licoricia of Winchester, a medieval Jewish businesswoman who was a money lender in the Hampshire city.

The Duchess of Cornwall, who has tested negative, revealed Charles is finding the situation “a bit tiresome” as she made a solo visit to Thames Valley Partnership in Buckinghamshire.


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Speaking to Willie Hartley Russell, high sheriff for Berkshire, she said: “He’s diagnosed now. Luckily (she’s negative). I’ve taken it so many times.”

He added: “It gets a bit pointless, doesn’t it?” and Camilla agreed.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Hartley Russell said: “She said, ‘Yes unfortunately he had tested positive again. I said he must be building up lots of antibodies.

“She said something like he’s finding it a bit tiresome to have got it again, but she said it in a light-hearted way.”

The heir to the throne first spent seven days self-isolating in Scotland after displaying mild Covid symptoms in March 2020.

On Wednesday evening, Charles met scores of people and was accompanied by Camilla at a reception in the British Museum to celebrate the work of the British Asian Trust (BAT), which he founded in 2007 to work to reduce poverty in south Asia.

The Prince of Wales had praised the “resilience and commitment” of a British Asian organisation working to help disadvantaged communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Prince of Wales speaks at a reception to celebrate the British Asian Trust at the British Museum, in London. Credit: PA

They were joined by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Home Secretary Priti Patel and former Liverpool footballer Ian Rush.

In a speech to the trust’s supporters and ambassadors, Charles, 73, spoke about the “devastating impact” the pandemic has had on south Asia.

He went on to praise the “truly remarkable achievement” of the BAT, which raised £20 million in four major fundraising campaigns during the pandemic.