Prince William secretly contracted COVID-19 back in April

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge never fail to make viral news, and with their roles elevated this year, the royal couple are all anyone can talk about.

And while the Cambridge children get the most attention, from Prince George knowing he’s different from his siblings to Prince Louis’ love of cuddling, it's Prince William and Kate Middleton who spend the most time in front of the cameras.

This week, it was Prince William who made headlines as it emerged that he was diagnosed with COVID-19 in April, something he kept a secret so as not to alarm the nation.

According to reports, the Duke of Cambridge contracted coronavirus in April, just weeks after his father Prince Charles confirmed that he had tested positive.

And while he did not need to go to hospital, treated instead by Palace doctors, William's symptoms were thought to be fairly severe. He was reportedly struggling to breathe.

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Due to the fact that one high profile royal family member had already been diagnosed however, it was reportedly decided that William's diagnosis would be kept under wraps so as not to spark public alarm.

Despite his illness, Prince William still kept up his royal duties from his Anmer Hall home where he was isolating, even opening Birmingham’s emergency Nightingale hospital via video link.

It is understood that Kate Middleton and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, did not catch the virus.

Jenny Proudfoot
Contributing Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.