Prince Charles and Camilla were in high spirits as they returned to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for the second time during the coronavirus crisis. During the engagement, the heir to the throne and the duchess met NHS staff providing and receiving the vaccine against Covid-19 and learned more about the ongoing programme.
Upon arrival, the royals were welcomed by Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust, Deborah Lee and Professor Steve Hams, Chief Nurse and Senior Responsible Officer for the vaccination programme in the area.
Charles and Camilla, who are respectively 72 and 73, donned face masks and goggles while touring the hub at the centre.
This area features four vaccination stations, where NHS staff have been administering the jab over the past few weeks.
The royal visit continued outside the hospital, where Charles and Camilla met a small group of staff involved in the programme as well as one of the first people to have received the coronavirus vaccine in the UK.
The Gloucestershire Vaccination Centre started providing the anti-covid jab to frontline and care workers earlier this month.
By December 16, this programme had vaccinated 1348 people throughout Gloucestershire.
People who received the vaccine were chosen according to their assessed risk.
Prince Charles and Camilla returned to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital six months after having met NHS staff there over the summer.
In June, as restrictions were being eased by the Government in the wake of the first national lockdown, the royal couple chose this hospital as the location for the first royal face-to-face engagement since mid-March.
During this visit, Prince Charles and Camilla spoke to frontline workers about their continuous efforts to save lives.
The Prince of Wales also opened up about his personal experience with coronavirus to a healthcare assistant.
Jeff Mills recalled his chat with the prince saying: “He did speak of his personal experience, so first-hand experience for him.
“He also spoke about his loss of smell and taste, and sort of still felt he’s still got it now.”
Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus in late March, and suffered a mild bout of the illness.
