Prince William's wife, Kate Middleton, and children -- Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, were not infected with the coronavirus after the Duke of Cambridge contracted COVID-19 in early April.
Reports recently came to light that Prince William, 38, secretly suffered the symptoms right after Prince Charles, 71, announced that he also had the disease. Initially, Kensington Palace refused to comment on the reports of Prince William's secret COVID-19 diagnosis but royal journalist Rebecca English posted on Twitter that the Palace "belatedly confirmed" the Cambridge family's coronavirus experience.
However, a royal insider clarified earlier reports which stated that Prince William was hit hard by the virus. Speaking with Vanity Fair, the source said that the Duke of Cambridge actually worked while in self-isolation. His condition was also not a secret among the members of the royal family.
Queen Elizabeth was reportedly worried over the conditions of both her heirs to the throne. Thus, it was a huge relief for Her Majesty to know that Prince William, the second in line, and Charles, the heir apparent, had mild symptoms only.
The news of Prince William's secret illness, however, received criticisms from the anti-monarchy group Republic. CEO Graham Smith said that this move showed a lack of leadership and a "condescending view of the public."
Smith told Daily Mirror that Prince William treated the public like children by hiding the truth about this condition. The critic said that he should have disclosed his COVID-19 and let the public form their own conclusions.
He also said that the team of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had to be admitted to intensive care for his COVID-19, informed the people of the status thus the public made their own judgments.
Joe Little of Majesty Magazine also said that Prince William should have come with his positive COVID-19 diagnosis after he fully recovered. He said that transparency is important.
Royal biographer Penny Juror found it very odd for the duke to conceal his condition as it went against royal protocols. When any one of the heirs was sick or had minor accidents from a sports game, the public would be informed.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the prime minister declined to comment if Johnson was aware of Prince William's condition in April. The spokesperson said it's a matter only the royal household could answer.
Prince William apparently didn't announce his condition because a lot was happening at that time. With his father's COVID-19 and the prime minister in the same boat, and while the country was on a strict lockdown, Prince William said he didn't want to add to the worries of anyone.
