How The Royal Family Is Handling Coronavirus: From Testing To Social Distancing

From the White House to Buckingham Palace, coronavirus is affecting some of the most powerful families in the world. Earlier this week Prince Charles tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first member of the Royal Family to receive a positive diagnosis. Soon after his father’s diagnosis was publicized, a video of Prince William making light of the virus earlier this month made the rounds. “I bet everyone’s like, ‘I’ve got coronavirus, I’m dying’ and you’re like, ‘No, you’ve just got a cough,’” he joked. 

Now, members of the Royal Family are hunkering down as coronavirus spreads across the U.K., following widespread cases around the world, including multiple world leaders and politicians. Currently, there are more than 9,529 cases have been confirmed in the U.K. And, London has reported the highest regional death rate, which reached nearly 170 as of Thursday. In an effort to curb the spread of the virus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people to shelter in place, and that includes the Royal Family — taking a cue from America's first family, too. Ahead, we've collected a rundown of how the Royal family is handling COVID-19. 

The 93-year-old queen left Buckingham Palace last week, and was off to Windsor Castle where she and her husband Prince Phillip, 98, will remain for the foreseeable future. The Queen cancelled all upcoming public events, as well as her previously scheduled travel to Cheshire and Camden later this month. The palace has also postponed a planned visit with the emperor and empress of Japan. 

“Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe,” the Queen said in a statement. She added, “You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part.”

After testing positive for coronavirus, Prince Charles said he is self-isolating at Balmoral Castle — the royal family's estate in Scotland. According to a press release from Clarence House, the 71-year-old Prince of Wales is only displaying mild symptoms and appears to be in good health so far. His wife, Camila, was also tested for the virus and reportedly does not have it. According to a BBC report, any staff or persons that came into recent contact with Prince Charles are also quarantining. "A number of household staff at Birkhall — the prince's residence on the Balmoral estate — are now self-isolating at their own homes," the report says. "A palace source said the prince has spoken to both the Queen and his sons — the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex — and is in good spirits."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have taken off to their Sandringham country estate, Anmer Hall, where they will self-quarantine with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Despite making light of the deadly virus earlier this month, Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, urged the people of the U.K. to come together in this moment of uncertainty.

"Whenever and wherever adversity strikes, the people of the U.K. have a unique ability to pull together," he said in a video posted to the Kensington Royal Instagram account. "The way that local communities support those affected shows the very best of our values and human nature."

The royal pair left the U.K. earlier this month to Vancouver Island in Canada where they reunited with their son Archie. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced plans to step down from their royal duties earlier this year. According to PEOPLE, the couple is "enjoying a quiet life. They go for long walks, they do yoga, and Meghan cooks. They are real homebodies who love to chill out with Archie and the dogs."

In addition to practicing social-distancing, Meghan and Harry are also working to address the mental health crisis that is unfolding as a result of the global pandemic. Markle is reportedly working with a mental health nonprofit to develop online support for the most vulnerable people affected by the far-reaching impacts of the deadly coronavirus. "Yes, there is isolation and physical distancing, but there doesn’t have to be loneliness," the couple said in an Instagram post from the official Sussex Royal account. The post provided resources for people in need of emotional support.

The novel coronavirus has forced Princess Beatrice — the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew — to cancel her upcoming wedding plans with real estate developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The couple announced their engagement in September and will postpone the wedding reception at Buckingham Palace until 2021. The occasion was originally slated to take place in May, but the couple is "particularly conscious of government advice in relation to both the wellbeing of older family members and large gatherings of people," a spokesperson said in a statement. Instead, the princess and her fiancé are considering a private marriage among a small group of friends and family.

Although Princess Eugenie hasn't shared many details of her whereabouts on social media, the younger sister to Beatrice is sharing some vital information about local hospitals and relief efforts hoping to tackle coronavirus. On her personal Instagram page, Princess Eugenie shared funding efforts to help first responders at The Royal National Orthopedic Hospital. "The purpose of the fund is to help their frontline clinical staff in any way possible – from providing meals, to purchasing essential equipment items, to supporting mental health in a time of crisis," she wrote.

Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, have both cancelled scheduled events due to the spread of coronavirus. The Countess took some time to send a thoughtful message to parents and caregivers, with the help of their 16-year-old daughter Lady Louise.

"For parents and carers, it can be a daunting time to help our children and young people through this period of uncertainty but please don’t feel alone," the Countess said from the Royal Family Instagram. "Make use of the resources out there and the fantastic digital communities that are sharing and supporting them." Sophie also drew attention to organizations, like the National Autistic Society for their work funding social care during the pandemic.

Princess Royal Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip could not be swayed from completing her royal duties. The 69-year-old princess was spotted earlier this month visiting the Addington Equestrian Centre in Buckingham as vice patron of the British Horse Society. The British Horse Society said it was taking measures to ensure the safety of its 300 visitors, stating it provided additional hand sanitizers and encouraged attendees to wash their hands. Still, some people were not thrilled that the event was not cancelled amid the pandemic.