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Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus

Prince Charles, the 71-year-old heir to the British throne, has tested positive for the coronavirus and is self-isolating with “mild symptoms,” his Clarence House office announced Wednesday.

The Prince of Wales’ wife, Camilla, 72, the Duchess of Cornwall, has tested negative for COVID-19.

The two are self-isolating at their home, Burnham, on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

“He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual,” the prince’s office said.

“It is not possible to ascertain from whom the Prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks,” it added.

A royal source told Reuters that the prince was tested Monday and got the results Tuesday.

Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, 93, remains at her home in Windsor Castle outside London with her husband, Prince Philip, 98, according to Reuters. They have been at the castle since March 19.

Prince Charles
Prince CharlesGetty Images

“Her Majesty the Queen remains in good health,” Buckingham Palace said, according to Reuters. “The Queen last saw the Prince of Wales briefly after the investiture on the morning of 12th March and is following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare.”

Their last public event together took place during a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, according to the Telegraph.

A royal source told Reuters the earliest Charles would have been infectious was March 13.

It was not yet known when Charles first displayed symptoms.

He met Prince Albert, Monaco’s head of state, nine days before Albert announced he had contracted the virus, the Telegraph reported. They met March 10 at a WaterAid event in London, where Charles gave a speech.

The couple’s tests were carried out by the National Health Service in Aberdeenshire, “where they met the criteria required for testing,” the prince’s office said.

Charles has spoken to both his mother and his children.

Britain has more than 8,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 422 people have died.