Prince William jokes he can’t wait for his first pub pint after lockdown as he meets NHS heroes
PRINCE William has joked he cannot wait for his first pint at the pub after lockdown as he met NHS staff today.
The Duke of Cambridge visited ambulance workers in Kings Lynn, Norfolk in his first face-to-face royal visit since the coronavirus lockdown began.
He thanked the NHS heroes for their hard work during the pandemic and joked he cannot wait for pubs to reopen.
Jokingly, he told them: "I look forward to messages when we can...go out to the local pub and have a pint."
Wills spoke to the paramedics and heard their experiences on the frontline during the coronavirus crisis.
MENTAL HEALTH
During the visit - which was carried out in line with social distancing rules - the Duke heard from crews working for the East of England Ambulance Service about the support they have received from members of the public, local businesses and volunteering networks.
The Duke, a former pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, also heard about the impact the outbreak has had on the crews' mental health.
Prince William, who had a Covid-19 temperature test and washed his hands when he arrived, said he had to stop himself from shaking hands with the paramedics.
He told them: "I'm still fighting the urge to shake hands. I'm keeping my hands by my side."
'OUR FRONTLINE'
In April, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge set up the Our Frontline initiative, which aims to provide 24/7 mental health support to frontline and key workers.
The Duke told staff: "You are the first people on the scene so by osmosis you take in emotions around you, it's how best you make sure the training is there from the beginning."
It comes as the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall met the workers in the grounds of Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester.
Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, followed social distancing guidelines and stood two metres apart from staff during their visit this afternoon.
Prince Charles, dressed in a grey suit, waved to workers and put his hands together in the Thai 'wai' greeting.
He also used the gesture in his final royal engagements before the start of lockdown.
Their visit to Gloucester followed the appearance by the Queen on Saturday at a mini Trooping the Colour ceremony at Windsor Castle - the first time any member of the royal family had attended a national event since lockdown.
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