When will Duke and Duchess of Cambridge resume public duties?

With many European kings and queens having resumed physical engagements since the easing of lockdown in their countries, the British royal households are continuing to operate behind closed doors.

Yesterday the Duchess of Cambridge, 38, made a virtual visit to Clouds House, a rehab centre in Wiltshire, to see how they have continued their life-saving work throughout the pandemic.

She and Prince William, 38, have also been secretly counselling people contacting crisis helpline Shout 85258 – a round-the-clock text messaging helpline developed by his Royal Foundation – while isolating at their Anmer Hall home in Norfolk.

Despite plans for a further easing of lockdown in the UK next week, with the reopening of non-essential retailers, FEMAIL understands there is currently no set plan in place for the British royal family to step out publicly any time soon.

The younger households, including that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Earl and Countess of Wessex, are reportedly looking at how physical engagements can be done in the future.

These will be in-line with government guidance and with a care to not put a strain on resources.   

Meanwhile Queen Letizia of Spain, 47, ventured out yesterday without a protective face mask to accompany her husband King Felipe VI to the Centre of High Performance (CAR) in the facilities of the Superior Sports Council (CSD) in Madrid.

It was the first time in three months that the royals were seen publicly without masks, and they stood at a safe distance from the centre’s staff. Spain outlined a four-stage plan on 4 May to start the easing of one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe. 

Further measures were relaxed on Monday, with the Health Ministry reporting the lowest number of new coronavirus infections since early March.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 49, has also resumed her busy schedule of public engagements, visiting an Art Museum in The Hague last week, and enjoying at night at the National Theater with her husband King Willem-Alexander, 53 – its first performance since re-opening after 11-weeks of lockdown.

The Netherlands imposed a far less strict lockdown than its European neighbours. 

Princess Mary of Denmark was also out and about this week; she attended the opening of the new Holmegaard Vaerk Museum. 

Denmark, one of the first European countries to announce a lockdown, started to ease its restrictions in mid-April, implementing a four-phase plan. On June 8 it was announced residents can attend social gatherings including up to 50 people under Phase 3.

And last month Queen Mathilde of Belgium perfectly coordinated a bold trouser suit with a vibrant orange protective face mask to meet female entrepreneurs at Gediflora flower farm in Oostnieuwkerke. 

Restrictions are slowly being lifted in Belgium; since May 10, people in the same household have been allowed visits from a group of up to four people, while schools and shops have reopened with social distancing measures.  

The British royals have stayed in touch with fans through social media, with the Cambridges sharing a new photo of Prince William sheltering Prince George, six, and Princess Charlotte, five, under an umbrella to mark Volunteers’ Week in the UK on Sunday.

The caption of the photo, taken by Kate, read: ‘As we approach the end of #VolunteersWeek The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pleased to share a new photo taken by The Duchess as they played their own part in the national volunteering effort.’ 

William and Kate have embraced the role of at-home teachers for their two eldest children during the lockdown, and with Gavin Williamson today announcing the Government has scrapped its target of getting all primary school pupils back in the classroom before the summer holidays, it’s likely they’ll be continuing until next month.

Meanwhile the Earl and Countess of Wessex have been snapped volunteering on a number of occasions over the past few months, often helping to pack boxes of food for local vulnerable people.

Sophie and Prince Edward are also among the royals who have virtually opened a Nightingale field hospital, along with Prince Charles, Prince William and the Duchess of Cornwall.

It’s likely the Cambridges and the Wessexes will be the first royals to return to physical public duty. 

Speaking of the royals, Nigel Cawthorne, author of Prince Andrew: Epstein and the Palace (Gibson Square), commented: ‘I think they will take a leaf from William and Harry’s mother during the AIDS epidemic. We now know how it is transmitted, but there was a lot of uncertainty at the time. 

‘Ironically, at the time, shaking hands couldn’t transmit the virus and their mother made a point of doing so to counter the stigma and spread comfort. ‘

‘I think her sons will seek to do the same and show how life can resume normality while sticking to the safety rules on transmission further to the latest guidance: washing hands frequently, wearing a face mask, particularly when coughing and sneezing or when exercising or singing or mingling in a large group. 

‘Unless pregnant with child, they are not part of the at risk demographic and will want to show that Corona may have changed lives it will not to limit our hopes for the future.”   

Last month it was reported that the Queen may remain in self-isolation ‘for months’ and never return to regular frontline royal duties.

Her Majesty, 94, who has put all her public engagements on hold as she resides with her husband Prince Philip at Windsor Castle, may not be allowed to return to her public duties due to the risk of catching Covid-19 ‘for years’ to come.

The claims came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out a tentative three-stage ‘exit plan’ and urged the country to return to work in a TV address to the nation from Downing Street.

Royal biographer Andrew Morton, 66, told The Sun that he feared the Queen, whose schedule is not expected to resume until the autumn at the earliest, may never be able to return to her regular duties and will most likely be seen on TV or video links rather than in public.

Prince Charles, 71, remains in isolation with the Duchess of Cornwall at his Aberdeenshire home of Birkhall on the Balmoral estate. He contracted coronavirus in March but claims he was ‘lucky’ to have experienced ‘relatively mild symptoms’.

Royal biographer Penny Juror told The Sunday Times his battle with the virus means he is now ‘able to understand people going through terrible times’ and ‘show leadership’.

‘That he caught the virus is one of the best things that could have happened,’ she said. ‘It echoes the Queen Mother and King George VI being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the public during the Second World War after Buckingham Palace was bombed.’

She added that more people have ‘seen and listened’ to Charles during lockdown – and that he has used his platform well throughout the pandemic. 

‘The pandemic has given him a platform and he has been masterful in the way he’s responded and used that platform,’ she said.

Juror, author of Charles and Diana: Portrait of a Marriage, added that Charles’ social media posts are now reaching a far wider audience, and people are finally starting to understand ‘a bit more about who he is and what he does’.