Coronavirus: Prince Charles praises NHS in first appearance since recovering from Covid-19

The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to all those fighting covid-19 in his first appearance since recovering from the virus.

On Wednesday, Prince Charles shared a video message on the Clarence House social media channels in which he spoke about his own experience with coronavirus.

“Having recently gone through the process of contracting this coronavirus – luckily with relatively mild symptoms – I now find myself on the other side of the illness, but still in no less a state of social distance and general isolation,” he said.

"As we are all learning, this is a strange, frustrating and often distressing experience when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed.”

The heir to the throne continued by saying that he and his wife, Camilla, are thinking of all those of have lost their loves ones and who are having to “endure sickness, isolation and loneliness”.

Prince Charles also commented on the “utter, selfless devotion to duty” of NHS staff, volunteers and supermarket workers, which he referred to as the “new emergency service”.

“At a time when doctors, nurses and all the vital ancillary staff that form the backbone of our remarkable NHS are increasingly under enormous strain and risk, as they battle heroically to save lives in intensive care centres and to contain, as much as possible, the spread of this virus, our thoughts and prayers are very much with those marvellous people whose extraordinary skills and utter, selfless devotion to duty and the care of their patients make us so very proud,” the 71-year-old said.

“Indeed, it has been so wonderful to see just how many across the United Kingdom have signed up in their hundreds of thousands to be NHS volunteers, offering their help to do whatever they can to provide support to those on the front line.”

Prince Charles called for staff on the front line to be “treated with special consideration" when coming off their duties and trying to do their shopping before thanking shop workers for “toiling as hard as they can” to keep supermarket shelves stocked.

“A further ‘emergency service’ on which we are all relying,” he said.

The royal concluded his video message by acknowledging the impact the “profoundly challenging situation” is having on people’s lives and encouraging them to try and stay positive.

“None of us can say when this will end, but end it will,” he said. “Until it does, let us try and live with hope and, with faith in ourselves and each other, look forward to better times to come.”

The public message comes just one week after Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus after displaying “mild symptoms”.

While the royal is now out of self-isolation, the Duchess of Cornwall – who was also tested but has not contracted the virus – is still self-isolating in line with government advice.

Following the announcement, Buckingham Palace issued a statement confirming that the Queen “remains in good health” and last saw Charles on the morning of 12 March.

The Duke of Edinburgh was not with the Queen at Buckingham Palace when she last met Charles, the palace confirmed.