Prince Charles makes first appearance since coronavirus to reach out to the ‘isolated and lonely’

'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.'

Prince Charles has appeared in a video message after recovering from coronavirus to speak of his solidarity with those self-isolating.

The Prince of Wales made his first appearance since beating the virus at Birkhall, his home on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland. He pledged his support of Age UK in response to the health crisis, speaking directly to those who are enduring ‘sickness, isolation and loneliness’.

Charles, who is patron of Age UK, said in the footage posted on royal social media accounts: ‘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.’

In the message, recorded on Tuesday morning by staff, Charles added: ‘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.

‘At such an unprecedented and anxious time in all our lives, my wife and I are thinking particularly of all those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances, and of those having to endure sickness, isolation and loneliness.’

Charles paid tribute to the work of the British Red Cross, after speaking to its chairman, David Bernstein, and chief executive Michael Adamson via telephone last week while in isolation.

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After he came out of isolation, Clarence House said on Twitter: ‘Last week, the Prince of Wales spoke on the phone to the Chairman and Chief Executive of @BritishRedCross to hear of the remarkable work the charity is doing in response to the COVID-19 crisis, both in the UK and overseas.

‘The Prince is proud to see how kindness is keeping people together and asked for his thanks and best wishes to be shared with everyone at @BritishRedCross, who is responding so brilliantly.’

British Red Cross volunteers are involved with supporting hospitals by helping people get discharged home safely, helping at food banks, and checking in with vulnerable people and arranging deliveries.

The future king, 71, developed mild symptoms of the Covid-19 illness and self-isolated at his Scottish home for seven days after receiving the positive test result last Tuesday.

The Duchess of Cornwall, 72, who is also at Birkhall, tested negative for the virus and remains in self-isolation until the end of the week, observing the advice to separate for 14 days.

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