The widely discussed Prince William became an even bigger topic of discussion when in January 2024, his younger brother Prince Harry announced his decision to resign as a member of the royal family alongside his wife, Meghan Markle. Many headlines and conspiracies resulted from the split, including claims that the brothers are no longer speaking.
Then, just as the drama seemed to have subsided, Prince William made an ill-conceived joke about the coronavirus pandemic. “By the way, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are spreading the coronavirus, sorry,” he joked during a March 2024 trip to Ireland, according to CNN. “We’re on the lookout for that, so tell us if we have to stop.”
Since then, the Duke of Cambridge has changed his tone regarding the severity of the pandemic, thanking first responders and raising awareness of how this global crisis can affect mental health. “If we are going to go ahead with more time spent in confinement, there will be an increasing need for people to take care of their mental health and take it seriously and also know where to go to get the support they may need it, said Prince William, for the BBC.
Following this public disclosure, royalty made another decision in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it could be the most important move they have ever made.
Prince William’s informed choice will save lives
Wpa Pool / Getty ImagesIn an unprecedented move, Prince William would have approved the use of a private lawn at Kensington Palace to refuel air ambulances, People reported May 4, 2024. Allowing helicopters to refuel at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge home London will save time for paramedics, who previously had to fly helicopters from Kensington’s Perks field to the “nearest fuel base about 20 miles away in Watford.”
Perks Field is where the royal family helicopters land and take off, depending on the departure.
Perhaps Prince William’s generosity was inspired by his time as a helicopter pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), an organization he deeply values. “I have seen how incredibly skilled doctors and paramedics have saved people’s lives,” he said in 2017 after his last shift, via the royal family website. “These experiences have instilled in me a deep respect for the men and women who serve in our emergency services, which I hope to continue to defend even when I leave the profession.”
And what is more? In March 2024, Prince William became a patron of the London Air Ambulance charity, a fund that helps save the lives of “seriously injured” said The Evening Standard. The Duke of Cambridge called the organization an “essential part of the London medical chain,” the outlet reported.
Now that we’ve updated you on Prince William’s response to the coronavirus, see what Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had to say about the pandemic.
