The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Highlighting the Age of the British Royal Family
When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited with NHS staffers at the 111 call center on March 19, it was the first royal engagement to shine a light on the work being done on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Their appearance also served to highlight the fact that at 37 and 38, William and Kate are the most senior royals not considered at increased risk from the virus because of their age.
One of the quirks of a hereditary system where the monarch vows to serve his or her whole life is that it can result in elderly and very elderly public officials. At 93, the Queen has slowed down, but is still very much at the helm, and her heir Prince Charles is now 71—an age when many are retiring—but he has yet to take on the top job he was born to inherit.
When it became clear how quickly the coronavirus was spreading within the UK, the Queen postponed trips to Cheshire and Camden “as a sensible precaution” and carried out a handful of audiences before heading to Windsor Castle. She and 98-year-old Prince Philip will remain at Windsor for several weeks, well beyond their usual Easter court. They will be expected to follow government advice for people in their age group throughout the pandemic, which could mean that the British Head of State won’t carry out certain types of engagements for some time. Of course, while people are being asked to stay at home, none of the royals will make public visits, but that could change if guidelines are altered.
Just how exposed the royals can be when holding meetings and greeting the public was made clear when Prince Charles tested positive for the coronavirus after a final busy week of engagements in London before social distancing was in full force. He suffered only mild symptoms and self-isolated for seven days at his Scottish residence, Birkhall, separately from Camilla, 72, who tested negative. Clarence House announced when he came out of isolation that he was in “good health.” But, at over 70, Charles and Camilla are included in an age group being urged to strictly adhere to social distancing.
Interestingly, as Prince Charles has already recovered from the virus, he could be eligible to return to public duties if testing for antibodies becomes available. After all, despite his age, he and 69-year-old Princess Anne consistently carry out more engagements than any other member of the family.
There are frequently suggestions that the Queen may one day hand over responsibilities to her son, with 95 being a widely-cited age for this. But an aide told T&C at the end of last year that there were “no plans” for any change of arrangements. Anyone asking about whether the Queen will abdicate will often be pointed in the direction of a speech she made on her 21st birthday, when she notably said, “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
With her 94th birthday quickly approaching on April 21, aides have said that the Queen is “following all the appropriate advice” with regards to her welfare. Her age may mean altering her schedule; however, another quirk of the hereditary system is that the monarch is supported in public duties by their family. The Queen led the way showing solidarity with her people in a message to the nation. It closed with the words: “You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part.”
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