The Queen, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, will be among the first to receive the coronavirus vaccine due to their age. But sources said the couple will not be given preferential treatment and will have to “wait in line” like everyone else.
The Government has said priority will be given to care home residents and staff, followed by NHS staff, frontline health and social care workers and those over the age of 80.
As a result, it may be several weeks until the Queen and Prince Philip receive the vaccine, according to the Mail on Sunday.
In light of this, Express.co.uk is asking readers: “Should Queen get priority access in order to lead by example?”
Royal aides have said getting the vaccine is a “personal decision” and “private matter”, but the Palace is expected to release a statement after she has received the drug.
This is because the Queen’s public backing for the vaccine would provide a powerful message to the British public and help counter anti-vaccination misinformation circulating online.
It would not be the first time the monarch has thrown her weight behind an innovative drug.
In 1957, the Queen announced Prince Charles and Princess Anne, then aged eight and six, had been inoculated against polio.
The move helped to ease concerns about potential side-effects of what was then a new vaccine and prompted millions to get their children the jab.
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It is thought the rest of the Royal Family will receive the vaccine when their age group is called up.
Prince Charles, 72 and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 73, are expected to be in the fourth priority group for the first wave of inoculations.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 38, are further down the list and are not due to receive the jab until the second wave of vaccinations, which are set to take place at some point next year.
Buckingham Palace and Whitehall are said to be discussing whether the royals would take part in a national vaccination drive to help dispel misinformation about the drug.
Earlier this week the UK’s drug regulation body approved the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine for public use.
The drug has been shown to be 95 percent effective in preventing coronavirus after its second dose.
The NHS will roll out the vaccine to those at the top of the list next week.
