Prince Philip briefly comes out of retirement to issue a rare message of gratitude and praise for school workers across the United Kingdom.
The Duke of Edinburgh thanked the teachers for their "selfless dedication" in this turbulent time as classes had to shift online due to the threats of COVID-19. When schools resumed in-person classes last fall, students and teachers still faced disruptions whenever a classmate or teacher ended up getting sick from the virus.
According to Daily Mail, Prince Philip remains the patron of the Chartered College of Teaching despite his retirement from public service in 2017. He also wished the school workers a "well-deserved break over Christmas and the New Year" as classes come to a close for 2020.
This is only the second time Prince Philip issued a public statement to express his support for those on the frontlines in this pandemic. In April, the Duke of Edinburgh also recognized the medical workers and scientists coming up with various ways to protect the people from the deadly virus.
Meanwhile, mass testing of COVID-19 transmissions at secondary schools in the U.K. will be underway beginning Jan. 4, 2021, as schools will re-open in staggered phases. The tests aren't a mandatory requirement from the Department of Education. Students or parents also need to give their consent for these tests, wherever appropriate, according to School Week U.K.
International students in the U.K. will be able to receive COVID-19 vaccinations at their preferred healthcare center during the next rollouts. However, children below 16 years old are not required to have the vaccine as the trials for this age group have yet to deliver the results.
Prince Philip, who is 99 years old, is expected to receive his COVID-19 inoculation with Queen Elizabeth, 94, in the coming weeks. The royal pair is eligible to undergo the vaccination during the first rollout because of their age and vulnerabilities.
But Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh are not going to get preferential treatment in the priority list from the government. Royal aides also said that the Queen and her husband have the choice to keep their inoculation a private matter but informing the public if they got the jab will also be helpful in letting the world know that the vaccine is safe for the elderly.
