Charles and Camilla, like the rest of the Royal Family, had to stop making visits and conducting in-person work when the coronavirus lockdown was called on March 23. But Clive Alderton, Charles’ principal private secretary, revealed the couple did not struggle changing over to their online duties. Charles has opened an NHS Nightingale hospital, made appearances for Macmillans and other charities and coordinated royal businesses using modern tech.
Mr Alderton claimed Charles and Camilla have been using their smartphones propped up on books to make their virtual appearances throughout the pandemic.
He spoke highly of the couple’s ability to switch over from face-to-face engagements to digital conferences, and said to the MailOnline: “As the world went into lockdown, Their Royal Highnesses adapted literally overnight to a new digital first way of working.
“For a family that is used to having to be ‘seen to be believed’, this was a new challenge.
“But the films they made using little more than a smartphone propped up on a pile of books, reached millions covering topics ranging from isolation, domestic violence, to book lists to keep the mind active.”
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Prince Charles news: Charles and Camilla have embraced tech during the coronavirus lockdown (Image: PA)
Prince Charles news: Clive Alberton has revealed the Prince and Duchess ‘adapted overnight’ to digital working (Image: Twitter / Kensington Palace)
The couple have also embraced Zoom, Microsoft Teams and House Party during lockdown.
According to the MailOnline, Charles and Camilla were already well prepared for the switch as they often contact other royals online, but the pair are said to be ready to get back outside when coronavirus restrictions are eased.
Mr Alderton added: “This is a family that loves being out there, that loves meeting people, that is energised by being out there and meeting people but we’re finding that they’re also pretty energised by meeting people virtually.
“So we’ll keep them connected in every way we can, we are still hoping to get them out and about as much as we can.
“We will use every bit of the flexibility that the various home nations’ administrations allow.”
Prince Charles news: Prince Charles and Camilla propped their phone cameras on piles of books to record messages (Image: PA)
Prince Charles news: The couple were desperate to get back to face-to-face engagements however (Image: PA)
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Charles and Clarence House employees kept to business as usual using digital communications.
A palace insider said in March: “The prince is operating as close to business as usual as possible at the moment.”
Another source close to the royals said to Vanity Fair: “No one wants to sit around doing nothing so we’re coming up with other ways to do things. Digital is now the way forward.”
Charles tested positive for coronavirus in March, and self isolated at his Birkhall residence in Balmoral.
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Charles and Camilla, along with the rest of the Royal Family, have made the most of their new online presence.
In April, The Queen, Camilla and Charles all took part in an International Nurses Day event, thanking front-line workers for their “very important” work.
Along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Charles and Camilla were highlighted in a Kensington Royal Twitter post which saw the royals thank nurses.
Charles said in the social media clip: “On this International Nurses Day, my family and I want to join in the chorus of thank yous to nursing and midwiferies staff all over the country.”
Prince Charles news: A timeline of Charles and Camilla’s romance (Image: Express)
Prince Charles news: Palace insiders said Charles was ‘operating as close to business as usual’ throughout the pandemic (Image: PA)
Charles also recently made a virtual appearance helping raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support’s annual coffee morning.
Marking the 30th anniversary of the event, Charles said the event highlights the “very best of British community spirit”.
He added: “In current times, we are learning just how powerful communities can be, especially in a crisis.”
Charles and Camilla have begun making more face-to-face appearances however, with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess carrying out their first in-person visit since lockdown in June.
