Prince William and Kate Middleton are making changes to their work as royals. Amid the looming public health crisis brought by the coronavirus pandemic, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are shifting their attention to help and support the British public.
A source told Vanity Fair that Prince William and Kate will be focusing on their key causes during these trying times. These are the children and the conservation of the environment.
The Cambridges are stepping up because they are not the vulnerable sector in this public health crisis, as per the source. Their royal aides are now keeping a close watch over the latest advice from the government so that they will know what essential steps to take to keep working in their causes.
Vanity Fair also reported that the royal calendar for the longer term has been significantly adjusted. Queen Elizabeth decided that she will stay in Windsor Castle, and not in Buckingham Palace, as a precaution against the virus.
The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, are considered vulnerable to this virus due to their age. COVID-19 is deadlier among the elderly and people of all ages with pre-existing conditions like hypertension, diabetes and auto-immunity disorder.
Prince William and Kate, however, will remain in their home in Kensington Palace as they continue with their royal work. They currently do not have any royal travels scheduled, including their planned trip to Australia.
Meanwhile, according to Daily Express, it is assumed that Cambridge children -- Prince George and Princess Charlotte -- are still attending school despite the growing threats of the pandemic. Thomas's Battersea in London has not shut down, along with many other schools around Britain.
Kensington Palace, however, will not comment when asked about the status of the children's school attendance. However, a source at Buckingham Palace said that it is studying the implications of the COVID-19 scare against the advice from the government.
The U.K. has been criticized for its herd immunity approach to the coronavirus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has yet to impose a quarantine or lockdown like the rest of the world but a report from Foreign Policy stated that he will likely reconsider as the cases rise.
The government believes that the best way to combat this virus for the long-term is to allow it to spread so that the people will be able to build up their immunities collectively. The government worries that the virus could return and have longer catastrophic consequences in the absence of a vaccine.
