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Prince William, second in line to the British throne, contracted coronavirus in April but kept his diagnosis secret, media reported Monday.
The Sun newspaper said the 38-year-old Duke of Cambridge was diagnosed shortly after his father, the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, announced that he had contracted the virus in late March.
But he did not make the diagnosis public “because he did not want to alarm the nation,” the tabloid said. The BBC also reported on the story, citing a palace source.
William’s Kensington Palace office did not confirm the reports when contacted by AFP, but did not deny that they were true either.
“There were important things that were happening and I didn’t want to worry anyone,” the prince was reported to have told a guest at an engagement, adding that he was “determined that everything continues as usual.
Palace doctors treated the prince, who was isolated at the family home in Norfolk, eastern England, where he made phone and video calls, the Sun said.
He quoted an unidentified source as saying that “William was hit pretty hard by the virus – he actually left six.”
“At one point, he was struggling to breathe, so obviously everyone around him was pretty scared,” added the source.
Charles went into self-isolation after announcing on March 25 that he had mild symptoms of the virus, which has claimed nearly 47,000 lives in Britain.
Two days later, Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive and was finally taken to the intensive care hospital for treatment.
On April 17, William revealed his concern for the health of his 71-year-old father, his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and his grandfather, Prince Philip.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure they are isolated and protected from this, but I am concerned,” he told the BBC.
The 94-year-old queen and 99-year-old Duke of Edinburgh isolated themselves at Windsor Castle, west London, as a precaution due to their age and increased risk.
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