Prince William says there’s ‘light at the end of this tunnel’ as he thanks Armed Forces personnel for their ‘vital’ role in the Covid vaccine roll-out on Zoom call
- The Duke of Cambridge asked Armed Forces members how they’ve found working on the vaccination roll-out across the UK in Zoom calls earlier this week
- Prince quizzed staff on whether there was ‘hope and optimism’ in jab centres
- One personnel member told the Prince, 38, ‘we’ve still got a long way to go’
- Yesterday, Prince Charles visited Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with the Duchess of Cornwall to pay thanks to frontline and vaccination staff
Prince William has thanked the Armed Forces for the role they’re playing in the UK’s Covid vaccination roll-out, during a series of online conversations with current personnel.
The Duke of Cambridge shared on Instagram footage of himself dialling into calls with members of the Armed Forces discussing how personnel have found the atmosphere in jab centres across the country.
In the short video shared to the kensingtonroyal Instagram account, the 38-year-old royal is heard asking: ‘Are people maybe seeing there is light at the end of this tunnel?’
Scroll down for video
The Duke of Cambridge, pictured at his laptop earlier this week, quizzed some of the 5,000 Armed Service members employed in the vaccination programme in online Zoom calls
One personnel member is heard telling the Prince, in the video shared to the kensingtonroyal Instagram account, that ‘we’ve still got a long way to go’ but that ‘it’s a joy and a privilege’ to be involved in vaccinating people
In a video call with five uniformed staff, the Prince highlighted that over 5,000 military personnel are currently working alongside the NHS in vaccinating priority groups.
William, seen on two seperate calls, is heard saying on one of them: ‘Are you hearing hope and optimism coming out now? People are maybe seeing there is light at the end of this tunnel?’
One service personnel member responds: ‘We’ve still got a long way to go but I think a lot of people come in with that keen, eager, enthusiasm because they do start to see light at the end of the tunnel now.’
He added: ‘It’s a real joy and a privilege to be there to help get them done.’
The royals have been vocal in support of the vaccination programme in recent weeks.
Yesterday, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall carried out their first public engagement of the year amid news of Prince Philip’s hospitalisation.
Vital role: An image shared on the Kensington Royal Instagram account on Friday highlighting the work the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force are doing to support NHS staff
One member of the Armed Services told William there was an enthusiasm from those coming into the vaccination centres. Right, William, in a teal blue jumper and navy blazer as he chatted with personnel
Prince Charles, 72, and the Duchess of Cornwall, 73, put safety first as they met with frontline workers at a Birmingham hospital during their first public engagement of the year on Thursday
Royal effort: The Prince of Wales has joined Prince William in thanking those working in the vaccination centres
The Duchess of Cornwall donned a blue and red tartan coat featuring a faux fur collar (Pictured, meeting front line health and care workers)
Prince Charles, 72, who along with the Duchess of Cornwall, 73, arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where they were greeted by Health Secretary Matt Hancock for the visit, toured the hospital to meet volunteers taking part in clinical trials for Covid-19 jabs.
The couple, who have both had their first doses of the jab, also met healthcare staff receiving their inoculations in their first joint official public event for two months.
They carried out the engagement despite news that Charles’ father Prince Philip, 99, has been admitted to the private King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, London, as a ‘precautionary measure’.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s illness is not Covid-related and it is understood the decision to admit him was taken with an ‘abundance’ of caution.